1st Annual PGH-AHU Healthcare Forum Report
Submitted by Michelle Jordan
On February 24th, the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Association of Health Underwriters hosted a health care forum on “Controlling Rising Health Care Costs” at the Sheraton Station Square. The forum caught the interest of many agents in the area and over 100 people registered to attend.
After opening comments from PGH-AHU Board President, Ken Herrle and legislative updates from our legislative chair Doug Moore, Don Balla reviewed the “rules of engagement” for the health care forum. Based on the volatility of the subject we certainly didn’t want to see any “fur fly” during the course of the discussion. The purpose of the forum was not to point fingers, place blame, or advertise one’s own particular agenda but to be an open, cross-functional discussion to help us all better understand some of the key cost drivers in our industry.
The forum was moderated by Pam Gaynor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, who has long asked the question of who is responsible for the rising cost of health care. Pam masterfully asked poignant questions and navigated the answers of the panel participants to gain the most information. The participant panel consisted of four individuals that represented a diverse constituent view. Natalie O’Brian, Human Resources Director of Carbis Walker Inc. was our employer representative. Dan Sacco, Vice President of West Penn Allegheny Health System, represented the hospital perspective. Mary Lou Osbourne, Executive Vice President of Health America, gave insight into how an insurance payor strives to be competitive and cost effective in the health care marketplace. Carl Bruning III MD, from Suburban Urological Associates, APC represented the individual provider viewpoint.
All in all, the forum was a real success. Many interesting and valuable insights were brought to the table. For instance, the providers admitted that in some instances they practice “defensive medicine” in order to keep themselves out of malpractice courts. If this forum is repeated next year we will be sure to have a malpractice attorney present to defend their profession! It was also interesting to learn that while agents are touting high deductible plans as the answer to rising health care premiums, the provider community is experiencing increased administrative costs from such plans because they are now have to collect on those deductibles. This is a point that I myself had never considered as a cost driver. The questions got even more fun when we opened the floor up to the audience. In the end, I believe every person in the room walked away with new insights on the issue.
After the forum concluded all participants were eager to move to the hors d'oeuvre reception at the Hard Rock Café sponsored by Aetna, Inc. It was Fat Tuesday and most of us ended up wearing Mardi Gras beads by the nights end! Feedback from the audience on the forum was very positive. All of the individuals I spoke to applauded the event and most said they got the most value from the provider community’s view on the health care industry today.
If you were unable to attend you missed an important discussion and some good food & drink! Maybe we will see you next year?
