Mixon, HME Get a Seat at Health Reform Table

WASHINGTON — Invacare Chairman and CEO Mal Mixon was among a group
of health care executives invited to a roundtable discussion April
8 with White House health reform chief Nancy-Ann DeParle.

“Every patient in every hospital or nursing home dreams of one
thing: going home. Home care is the only trifecta in the health
care system — it is patient preferred, has better clinical
outcomes and is significantly more cost effective than
institutional care,” Mixon told the group.

During the two-hour discussion, DeParle, director of the White
House Office of Health Reform, heard views from the diverse roster
of 33 execs representing patients, providers, insurers, drugmakers
and other stakeholders — and most pointed out problems with
the nation’s ailing health care system. The group focused on the
growing incidence of chronic disease, skyrocketing costs, coverage
and the complexity of health IT, among other issues.

Some, including Mixon, also pointed to solutions. Home care
“clearly lowers cost,” he said. “With the technology that is
available we can now create a hospital room in the home.”

Kenneth E. Thorpe, executive director of the Partnership
to Fight Chronic Disease, said innovative ways to prevent
chronic illnesses must be found, such as getting schools involved
in children’s care, launching more community programs and getting
workplace employers to address the issue.

Pharmacy benefit manager Medco Chairman David Snow said the country
could save $350 billion a year by better managing the treatment of
chronic disease, and another $200 billion by instituting medical
malpractice reform. He also said Medicare could save $130 billion
each year by coordinating care delivered to beneficiaries in the
last year of their life.

After the meeting, Mixon said, “The thing about it that amazed
me was how many connected points there were to home care,” noting
comments on rehab and chronic care issues from those representing
patient groups such as Easter Seals. “I think things will be different
in this reform. There’s a lot of momentum to do something … I
think home care will get a lot of attention,” he said. However, he
added, “once they design this thing, the elephant in the room is
who’s going to pay for it and how are you going to pay for it.”

In her closing remarks, DeParle acknowledged “the devil is in
the details” and asked participants to “stay with us” as Congress
works to craft and pass reform legislation. “But the great news is
… maybe we are finally at the point when we are in the
details,” she said. “Congress is working and you’re all at the
table helping.”

House and Senate Democratic leaders have told President Obama
they will have health reform bills on his desk by August.

“Nancy-Ann has given us her phone number and email and
encouraged us to keep up dialog … so I’m going to continue
communicating with her,” Mixon said.

Read an HHS blog entry on the event.