Commentary: Steve Roberts

All In State Must Cooperate To Alleviate Health Care Crisis

The Herald-Dispatch, January 21, 2006

Helping to ensure access to affordable health insurance coverage for all West Virginians is one of the most pressing issues facing our state. No matter what side you may be on -- business or labor -- the issue is reaching a crisis stage. It is more important than ever that we work to find common ground.

For those companies that are providing insurance, more and more of them are being faced with continued cost increases. Some companies are having to scale back coverages or make drastic changes. For those companies that don't provide any coverage, they are being further shut out of offering affordable plan options. And, for the growing ranks of uninsureds and people on public-sector health care, their outlook is looking more and more bleak.

Just as in other states, West Virginia's business community, particularly the vast majority of small businesses, is seeking a solution to this complex and vital issue.

The West Virginia Chamber of Commerce has outlined a number of proposals to help resolve this situation and pledges to work with Gov. Joe Manchin, legislators, insurance company officials, health care providers, doctors and labor leaders to enact workable solutions.

A major culprit of the current health insurance situation is the fact that cost-shifting makes up a very large percent of private-sector health insurance premiums in West Virginia. Some estimates are that cost-shifting in West Virginia has added 45 percent to the cost of private-sector insurance.

This is an unsustainable burden that is creating a crisis situation.

This cost-shifting burden in West Virginia poses serious challenges for employers who want to provide health care coverage. National data show that the percentage of businesses offering health insurance to their workers has declined steadily over the last five years as the cost of providing coverage continues to outpace inflation and wage growth.

To prevent further cost shift to the private sector, the West Virginia Chamber of Commerce supports responsible measures to increase the amount of state funding for governmental health care programs. The Chamber also supports efforts that will promote the use of technology to improve health information exchange and health delivery productivity. And all large employers need to provide a meaningful health care plan for their employees.

Overall, development of responsible state initiatives and measures will help to expand access to and use of affordable health insurance coverage options for businesses.

Gov. Manchin is proposing some of these, including added ways for more businesses to offer at least a basic coverage policy. More expansive efforts still will need to be examined by all participants to truly develop far-reaching solutions to our current health care situation.

Among these may be a combination of new health care options focused more on preventative and diagnostic care, workplace wellness incentives and chronic disease management programs. In addition, some mandated coverages should be re-evaluated in order to help reduce policy costs.

By working together and thinking innovatively, we can develop ways to alleviate the health care crisis facing all West Virginians.