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November 1991

December 1991

Farewell to Reform
Council Approves Rail Transit Development Agreement (Astrid Monson)
Summary of Rail Transit Capital Financing Plan
Leasehold
Viewpoint
Consensus Questions (Health Care)
Membership
Architectural Planner Donald Monson Dies (Murry Engle)
General Membership Meeting

LWV of Honolulu
State: HI File #:

Consensus Questions

I. What should the goals of health care policy in the United States include?

(Check "High Priority;" "Lower Priority," "Not a Priority," or "No Consensus" for each item in Question I, according to the value your League places on that goal. It. is permissible to choose "High Priority;" "Lower Priority;" etc. for as many as necessary.)

High Priority / Lower Priority / Not A Priority / No Concensus

a) Minimum basic level of care for all U.S. residents

b) Health care at an affordable cost to the individual patient

c) Quality standards of care

d) Consumer choice in the selection of health care providers

e) Choice for providers in the selection of type of practice (i.e., traditional single or group practice, HMOs, etc.)

f) Efficient and economical delivery of care

g) A reasonable total national expenditure level for health care

h) Equitable distribution of health care services

i) Advancement of medical research and technology

j) Other

II. If a goal of U.S. health care policy is a minimum basic level of care for all U.S. residents, what should that minimum basic level include?

(Check "High Priority;" "Lower Priority," "Not a Priority;" or "No Consensus" for each item in Question ll, according to the value your League places on that choice. It is permissible to choose "High Priority," "Lower Priority," etc. for as many as necessary.)

High Priority / Lower Priority / Not A Priority / No Concensus

Prenatal and Reproductive Health

k) Prevention of disease

1) Health promotion and education

m) Primary care

n) Acute care

o) Long-term care

p) Mental health care

q) Dental care

r) Vision care

s) Hearing care

t) Other

III. If a goal of U.S. health care policy is equitable distribution of health care services, what would contribute to achieving this goal?

(Check "Agree," "Disagree," or "No Consensus" for each. It is permissible to agree or disagree with more than one item.)

Agree / Disagree / No Consensus

u) Requiring insurance companies to use community rating instead of experience rating

v) Allocating services to medically underserved areas

w) Providing for training of health care professionals in needed fields of care

x) Mandating uniform service levels for all publicly funded health care programs

y) Providing for insurance pools for small businesses and organizations.

z) Other

IV If a goal of U.S. health care policy is efficient and economical delivery of care, which of the following cost control methods would contribute to achieving this goal?

(Check "Agree;" "Disagree;" or "No Consensus" for each. It is permissible to agree or disagree with more than one method.)

Agree / Disagree / No Consensus

aa) Consumer accountability through deductibles and copayments

bb) Mandatory second opinion before serious surgery or extensive treatment

cc) Outcome-based guidelines for providers

dd) Regional planning for the allocation of personnel, facilities and equipment

ee) Utilization reviews of treatment

ff) Establishing maximum level of public reimbursement to providers

gg) Use of fixed, per capita payments to providers (capitation payments)

hh) Use of managed care

ii) Reduction of administrative costs

jj) Malpractice reform

kk) Other

V. In a health care system with limited resources, what criteria should be used in allocating or "rationing" health care services for individuals in need of care?

(Check "Agree," "Disagree," or "No Consensus" for each. It is permissible to agree or disagree with more than one criterion.)

Agree / Disagree / No Consensus

ll) Ability of patient to pay (from personal resources or from public or private insurance coverage)

mm) Age of patient

nn) Urgency of medical condition

oo) Life expectancy of patient

pp) Expected outcome of treatment

qq) Cost of procedure

rr) Duration of care

ss) Patient and family wishes

tt) Quality of life of patient after treatment


THE CONSENSUS QUESTIONS ON THE PRECEDING TWO PAGES ARE BEING PRESENTED IN PREPARATION OF THE CONSENSUS MEETING TO BE HELD ON SATURDAY, JANUARY 25, 1992, ON THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF THE UNITED STATES STUDY OF THE DELIVERY AND FINANCING OF HEALTH CARE IN THE UNITED STATES.

THE SPECIAL EDITION OF THE NATIONAL VOTER DATED AUGUST/ SEPTEMBER, 1991, ON LOOKING FOR S CURE: THE AILING U.S. HEALTH CARE SYSTEM, SS WELL SS THE ARTICLE ON "CANADA'S HEALTH INSURANCE AND OURS: REAL LESSONS, BIG CHOICES" IN THE APRIL/ MAY NATIONAL VOTER, OFFER GOOD RESOURCE MATERIAL TO PREPARE FOR THE CONSENSUS MEETING.

IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONSENSUS QUESTIONS IN THIS VOTER BE STUDIED AND BROUGHT TO THE CONSENSUS MEETING. THE TIME AND THE PLACE FOR THE MEETING WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THE NEXT VOTER.

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