Update from Chair

Emergency Response Commission

 As we move into a new year I am pleased to provide you with the following information: 

• Nearly all commissioners have agreed to stay on the commission for a second year.
• The final report should be completed by the end of January for distribution. It will consist of two elements:
  • A 2-page summary of the top 10+ recommendations approved at our December meeting.
  • A multi-page supplement documenting our work and providing evidence for our recommendations.
• Bill Curry and Don Williamson have agreed to Co-Chair the Manpower Committee. They will lead hearings in the next two months with Deans and Directors of Health Manpower Programs. Clyde Barganier has agreed to help and will be a critical asset.
• Bob Mullins has agreed to chair a new committee on Physicians in the health care system.
• Voices is taking the lead in the Child Restraint and Cell Phone initiative.
• Get Healthy Alabama will be helping in the nutrition and physical fitness side.
• Darrelynn Bender, Commissioner and Chairman of Chambers has agreed to chair an Implementation Committee for EPI on behalf of the Alabama Chambers.
• We are working to get an implementation chair for Child Caring Initiative
• Jimmie Denise Clark is working with Bill Coleman to put together a document justifying and determining the cost for a rural physicians tax break.
• Conversations are underway to look at means for funding Medicaid.
• Below is our second editorial to be distributed to newspapers throughout the state.

Editorial

A Plan to Implement the Recommendations of the Emergency Response Commission on Health Care Crisis

On Dec. 2, 2004 the Emergency Response Commission on the Health Care Crisis in Alabama approved a number of recommendations to help improve health care in our state

This group of government, business and health care leaders agreed that our citizens could benefit from the immediate implementation of stronger child restraint legislation, from expanded enrollment in the free Emergency Patient Information (EPI) program, and by providing additional support for a plan to provide health insurance to uninsured children in our state.

According to statistics, 30 percent of the $14 billion in health expenditures during 2003 went to treating injuries from preventable accidents.

VOICES for Alabama’s Children, a statewide, multi-issue, non-partisan child advocacy organization will take leadership in educating lawmakers and citizens on the need for the bill. This proposed legislation includes requiring proper restraint for children up to 12 years old, regardless of seating position in the vehicle; belt positioning booster seats required for children under 80 lbs and less than 29 ½ inches tall in seated position; require child restraints for all vehicles except buses; assess a minimum $25 fine for failure to comply with any part of this law, with funds being allocated to provide child restraint systems for low-income families.

Statistics show that preventing catastrophic spinal cord or brain injury to just 146 children could represent a comprehensive cost savings of $9.2 million, not to mention the quality of life that child will sustain without such a preventable injury.

A second effort of the ER Commission will be the implementation of the free Emergency Patient Information (EPI) program throughout the state.

EPI is a valuable online record of a patient’s health information, and can be easily accessed by healthcare professionals in times of emergency. Individuals store their selected health information on a secure website, which can be accessed by password only by the individual or a health provider in times of an emergency. EPI is especially helpful when the patient has a diminished ability to communicate his/her medical history or special needs to a healthcare provider who is called on to make medical interventions to preserve life or reduce life-threatening conditions.

EPI is free to all Alabamians, regardless of age or insurance coverage. Once a person registers online for EPI, he/she will receive a plastic EPI card within two or three days of registration.

The Commission will be working with the Alabama State Chamber’s of Commerce to make the public aware of this opportunity to register for EPI card. The Chambers will work through businesses, schools and community organizations, with a goal of having 50 percent of Alabamians registered by the end of 2007.

To obtain your EPI card now, simply log onto www.myepi.net, click on the link “Register for EPI.” and choose which information you would like health care providers to have accessible in times on an emergency.  

The third project the ER Commission will be working on this year will be to provide health insurance to the uninsured children of our state.  Alabama Child Caring Foundation (ACCF) is a private sector, not-for-profit entity established in 1988 to provide preventive, primary, and early medical care to disadvantaged Alabama-children who are uninsured and ineligible for governmental programs.

Its work is made possible through tax-deductible contributions from businesses, civic organizations, faith-based groups, foundations, employee groups and individual citizens. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama matches all contributions made to ACCF, enabling twice as many children to participate. In addition, Blue Cross donates the entire administration of the program.

Since 1988, ACCF has enrolled more than 47,000 children for ongoing health benefits. Presently, it has a waiting list in excess of 2,500 youngsters, and its remaining target group numbers about 30,000 uninsured children.

The success of ACCF, ALL Kids, and Alabama Medicaid in providing children’s health insurance is seen in the reduced number of uninsured youngsters from 230,000 in 1988 to 65,000 in 2004.

The Business Council of Alabama has agreed to work toward the goal of finding a group of businesses and other institutions willing to contribute the funding necessary to provide health care to 5,000 children by the end of 2006.

These are the first major initiatives to be implemented by the Commission in 2005. Other recommendations are being worked and we will be reported in the next quarter.

For continued information on the Emergency Response Commission and other health tips, visit www.gethealthyalabama.com.