In a guest column for the Tahoe Daily Tribune, Clint Purvance, MD, president and CEO of Tahoe, Calif.-based Barton Health, wrote he hopes for a "broad bipartisan approach" to improve coverage rates and affordability of health insurance following the demise of the Republican-proposed American Health Care Act.
"While backers of the newly proposed legislation were disappointed that they could not find sufficient support, residents who depend on the Affordable Care Act's medical protections and insurance options felt relief," he wrote.
Dr. Purvance credits California policymakers for expanding Medicaid, which helped lower the uninsured rate substantially. One-third of state residents and two-thirds of the state's children currently depend on Medi-Cal for healthcare coverage, according to Dr. Purvance, and 9,500 residents in the South Lake Tahoe area are enrolled in the program. That figure is more than twice that of 2014.
As a result of a larger insured population, Barton Health has recruited additional clinicians and expanded its specialty services, including palliative care, psychiatry, urology and telehealth, according to Dr. Purvance. It has also increased its focus on prevention and wellness with its planned Robert Maloff Center of Excellence, which is expected to open next winter.
Dr. Purvance said the increased emphasis on wellness is a positive result of the ACA. However, the law has also prompted many insurance companies to restructure and place a greater financial burden on patients.
"While we are thankful more patients have additional access to health and wellness services in our community, our health system is aware of areas that need attention," he wrote. "We are hopeful Congress will address the insurance market's rising healthcare premiums and stabilize private insurance rates for residents who pay high out-of-pocket costs."
"Every person deserves to have options and choices they can afford to live a healthy life," he concluded.