Candidates for Congress and Governor Discuss Health Care in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Health Center Association hosts candidates’ forum at annual meeting; nationally recognized speakers addressed implementation of health reform
Providence Journal article: With 2 leading R.I. candidates missing, election forum tackles health-care law
On October 14, 2010, the Rhode Island Health Center Association held its 2010 annual meeting and candidate forum at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick, RI. At the meeting, a candidates’ forum hosted by political reporter Bill Rappleye focused on issues relating to health care and the community health centers in Rhode Island, particularly health reform implementation, the Medicaid program, and primary care.
Congressman James Langevin and Mark Zaccaria, running for the Second Congressional District seat, and Providence Mayor David Cicilline and State Representative John Loughlin, First Congressional District candidates, squared off in two separate panels for congressional candidates. Ken Block, Moderate Party candidate for the office of Governor, and John Robitaille discussed health care in Rhode Island on a panel for gubernatorial candidates. Two additional candidates for Governor, Treasurer Frank Caprio and former Senator Lincoln Chafee were also invited, but did not attend.
All the candidates agreed that the community health centers provide high-quality health care services to Rhode Islanders. Langevin noted that the “community health centers have been on the front lines of meeting the needs of the uninsured and underinsured.” Langevin and other candidates agreed that many people with insurance also benefit from the health care provided at the community health centers. Block stated, “Community health centers are a terrific model for insured and uninsured patients.” Zaccaria noted that community health centers will always be more detailed and responsive to the needs of communities. Robitaille said we have to look at new innovative models of providing health care, and commended the use of community health organizations.
Stark differences over federal health reform legislation were clear during the panel discussions. While Langevin stated that health care is a right, Zaccaria disagreed, stating, “Making [health care] a right, not a privilege, omits the cost structure.” Robitaille and Block disagreed over whether, as governor, they would advise the Attorney General to join the law suit opposing health reform. Robitaille would join the suit, while Block opposes it. Cicilline, supportive of health reform legislation, noted that “support for the community health centers is a wonderful part of the legislation.” Loughlin, while stating that everyone agrees that the health care system needs reform, was critical of the bill. “This bill does nothing to address costs,” he stated.
“Our candidates’ forum is a way to engage with the candidates on health care issues that are important for all Rhode Islanders, and to hear about an issue that, frankly, has been discussed far too little this election cycle,” said Jane A. Hayward, President and CEO of the Rhode Island Health Center Association (RIHCA). RIHCA hosts candidate forums in election years in order to educate voters about the candidates’ positions on policies that affect access to health care for the health centers’ 120,000 patients, who include 36,000 of the state’s 140,000 uninsured residents, and 50,000 of the state’s 200,000 Medicaid beneficiaries.
Immediately following the candidates’ forum, RIHCA hosted a luncheon featuring two nationally-recognized speakers who discussed health reform implementation. Christie Hager, Regional Director of Region 1, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, spoke about health reform implementation. Ms. Hager addressed the opportunities and challenges facing states as they prepare to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. She spoke about the role of HHS in supporting states in this implementation.
David Cutler, Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University, spoke about the coming health care transformation. Professor Cutler noted that “[t]he future health care system will have challenges, to be sure, but also enormous opportunities to do better for patients and for our pocketbooks. The challenge is whether we are able to seize them.”
During the program, RIHCA honored three innovators and leaders in health care. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse was given the John H. Chafee Healthcare Leadership Award for his consistent leadership in the fight to reform our broken health care system. The Senator was unable to attend the event because he is overseas visiting American troops. However, accepting the award by letter, the Senator told the attendees, mostly employees of community health centers and other health care organizations, “While I am grateful for this award, it is you who deserve my thanks for the vital work you do every single day, providing access to care for every Rhode Islander regardless of health or wealth. When debating health policy in the Senate, I can’t tell you how often I hold up Rhode Island’s vibrant network of community health centers as a national model for health care delivery, efficiency, and equity.”
The Rhode Island Foundation was given the John J. Cunningham award for their significant commitment to increasing access to primary care for all Rhode Islanders, including those who are underserved. "The Rhode Island Foundation is honored to receive the Cunningham Award," said Owen Heleen, the foundation's vice president for grant programs. "We believe that access to high quality, primary health care is a critical quality-of-life issue for every community in our state. We are very pleased to support Rhode Island's community health centers and other healthcare providers as they work to promote new access to primary care and innovations that improve health care's cost-effectiveness. Working together, we believe we can make Rhode Island the home of the best health care system in the nation."
Steven Roth, MD, from Thundermist Health Center, received the Clinical Leadership Award. When accepting the award, Dr. Roth praised the patient-centered medical home model of care, particularly the team-based approach of the model. “To succeed with our patients, we must look to the skills and judgment of our whole team” Dr. Roth said.
“Senator Whitehouse and the Rhode Island Foundation have both stepped up to encourage innovation and partnerships in order to improve access to health care in Rhode Island. Dr. Steven Roth has been an innovator at his health center, and in Rhode Island, helping foster development of the medical home model of care in Rhode Island,” said Hayward. “We are fortunate to have these resources in Rhode Island, and we are pleased to celebrate their accomplishments today.”
Rhode Island’s ten community health centers are a critical element in the state’s health care landscape. Serving 120,000 Rhode Islanders annually, the community health centers provide comprehensive, high quality primary and preventive care to Rhode Islanders whether they have insurance or not. About 30% of community health center patients are uninsured, about 22% are privately insured, and the rest are publicly insured (RIte Care, Medicaid and Medicare).
Founded in 1972, the Rhode Island Health Center Association supports, sustains, and strengthens Rhode Island’s community health centers so they can provide high quality, comprehensive health care.
About the Awards:
John H. Chafee Healthcare Leadership Award: Given to an individual, group or organization whose work embodies the spirit of the late Senator John H. Chafee, demonstrating his commitment to strengthen the health care safety net and provide true justice and equity in health care for all.
John J. Cunningham, MD Citizen’s Award: Given to an individual, group or organization whose work promotes the goal of access to primary care for the underserved and uninsured, and who recognizes the importance of the RI community health centers in meeting the health care needs of the underserved.
Clinical Leadership Award: This award is open to all licensed providers in Rhode Island’s community health centers, and looks to recognize an individual who exemplifies continued clinical excellence/professional development; is innovative in practice or policies; demonstrates leadership in areas that benefit the organization and/or the system of care; and gives back to the community.
About the Award Recipients:
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
Rele Abiade Ritter accepted the John H. Chafee Healthcare Leadership award on behalf of Senator Sheldon Whitehoue. Sheldon Whitehouse was elected to represent Rhode Island in the United States Senate in 2006. Senator Whitehouse has been a consistent leader in the fight to reform our broken health care system. His temporary service on the United States Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pension Committee came at a time when he was able to have real influence and input on health reform and advocate for access to primary care. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will increase access to health insurance for many of Rhode Island’s 140,000 uninsured. It will also increase access for everyone, with and without insurance, to the high-quality low-cost primary health care already provided to about 12% of Rhode Islanders at the community health centers. The Senator worked to include language in health reform legislation to close the Medicare Part D “doughnut hole” which leaves many seniors unable to afford their prescription drugs. He also spearheaded the nationwide effort to expand the use of health information technology, such as electronic medical records, which lower costs and improve health care quality for patients.
Rhode Island Foundation
Owen Heleen accepted the John J. Cunningham, MD Citizen’s Award on behalf of the Rhode Island Foundation. The Rhode Island Foundation is a proactive community and philanthropic leader dedicated to meeting the needs of the people of Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Foundation has made a significant commitment to increasing access to primary care for all Rhode Islanders including those who are underserved. The foundation has focused significant resources in the area of primary care over the past two years through its Fund for a Healthy Rhode Island. In addition, the Foundation has specifically supported the work of community health centers in improving access through increased hours, encouraging open access and recognizing the relationship between primary and behavioral health care. The Foundation’s as both a funder and as convener provides a pathway on which all stakeholders can come together for substantive discussion.
Dr. Steven Roth
Steven Roth joined the staff of Thundermist Health Center in 2003, and assumed the responsibility of Medical Director in 2005. He is a champion for the patient centered medical home model of care. He is a member of the steering committee for the expansion sites involved in the Chronic Care Sustainability initiative, an all-payer patient-centered medical home pilot project.
About the speakers
Christie Hager
Christie Hager was appointed to the position of Regional Director of Region I of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, in April 2010. Previously, she was Chief Health Counsel to the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives during the development, drafting, and first three years of implementation of the Massachusetts health reform law enacted in 2006. Christie is the former Deputy Director of the Division of Public Health Practice at the Harvard School of Public Health, where she is appointed to the faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management. She was Director of the Massachusetts Health Policy Forum from 1999-2003 at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy at Brandeis University’s Heller School, where she was appointed the first Senior Fellow.
David Cutler
David Cutler is currently the Otto Eckstein Professor of Applied Economics at Harvard University. Professor Cutler’s research is in health and public economics. He served on the Council of Economic Advisers and the National Economic Council during the Clinton Administration, advised the Presidential campaign of Bill Bradley, and was senior health care advisor to the Presidential campaign of Barack Obama. Among other affiliations, Professor Cutler has held positions with the National Institutes of Health and the National Academy of Sciences. Currently, Professor Cutler is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research and a member of the Institute of Medicine.