Thread by @ChomiloMD

Awesome panel up next with @NSmithholt12, @MollyVoris & @rebekahgeemd & moderated by Chiquita Brooks-LaSure talking about Effective State Strategies to improve Health & health care.

#USofCare2019

@rebekahgeemd shares about Louisiana’s model for treating Hepatitis C
1️⃣ universal access
2️⃣ engaging primary care providers to treat
3️⃣ promoting social capital around treatment
4️⃣ supporting primary prevention

#USofCare2019

@NSmithholt12 sharing her story & how her son’s struggles weren’t his alone.

After her son’s death from lack of access to insulin she heard from hundreds of others about, “the fear of not being able to stay alive because they can’t afford it”

#insulin4all #USofCare2019 #mnleg

@MollyVoris shares about WA Cascade Care - their effort to address cost sharing & affordability

1️⃣standardized cost sharing =🍎to🍎 comparisons
2️⃣decrease deductibles
3️⃣public option w/(provider reimbursement cap of 160% of Medicare)
4️⃣cap costs of specialty drugs
#USofCare2019

@rebekahgeemd shares a story of how a patient of hers couldn’t afford penicillin for syphilis. They called the pharmacy & the price they were given was $2000(?!)

$2000

For Peni-freakin-cillin 🤯😤🤬

This shouldn’t happen anywhere in the US

#USofCare2019

@rebekahgeemd shares about just some of the impact of access to care under #Medicaid expansion

🔹improved black maternal mortality rates
🔹improved care in criminal justice-involved individuals & a ⬇️in crime
🔹76,000 more women screened for breast cancer

#USofCare2019

@rebekahgeemd found talking about maternal mortality a way to have broader discussions about structural racism & equity

She also has her staff undergo racial equity & bias training to inform their work 🙌🏾👏🏾

#USofCare2019
@md4healthequity @ThisIsMedicaid @MinnesotaDHS @mnhealth

@NSmithholt12 points out one of the obstacles in real change is communities & legislators that don’t see how the issue impacts them.

“Anyone can get diabetes at any time...3/4 of people who have died from lack of insulin came from middle class families”

#USofCare2019
#mnleg

@MollyVoris shares that there was great support from health & social service advocates, unions & community organizations.

Providers & payers have been slower to come along.

But 1 incentive written was their Provider tax can be waived for public option enrollees.
#USofCare2019