Monday, September 13, 2004

To: All Commissioners and Consultants
Emergency Response Commission Health Care Crisis
State of Alabama
From: Chair
Topic: Bi weekly update of Chair

 

·        Staff and Office

·        Obtained funds from Charles Anderson for a ½ FTE administrator

·        Seeking funds for a second secretarial person; have 2 possible leads

·        Report on Committee

·        The following committees have scheduled their meetings to prepare their 1^st draft reports:

                                               i.            Unintentional Injuries

                                               ii.            Wellness

                                              iii.            Uninsured Medicaid

                                              iv.            Hospital /Nursing Homes (doing work by e-mail)

                                               v.            State Models

1.     I will meet with the Chair George Clay in the next week

                                             vi.            Uninsured / Medicaid

1.     Met with Chair Bob Beshear

                                             vii.            Hospitals

1.     Met with Martin Nowak

·        Conversations

·        Spoke with Ralph Stacy about organizing our statewide chamber meetings.  A planning meeting is in the works.

·        Spoke with Mike Morrisey at UAB about Unintentional Injuries

·        Editorials

·        I have drafted the first of a series of editorials that I hope you will be willing to support and send to your local papers over your signatures. 

Editorial #1 - WHAT ARE THE PROBLEMS? 

We Alabamians have an Emergency Response Commission charged by the State Legislature with meeting the challenge to enhance quality and increase access to care for the uninsured, and lower health care cost for all Alabamians.  NO SMALL TASK!! 

This is the first of a series of editorials by the Commission to bring our Alabama citizens important information about our work so when the time comes for you to voice your support you will be heard. 

1.  Currently Alabamians spend 14 billion per year on health care or about $3,500 per person.  It is anticipated that this number will continue to increase significantly in the next 15-20 years.

 2.  Last year we spent 4 billion dollars on unintentional injuries, including automobile injuries, falls, burns, and pedestrian injuries.  Many of these injuries could have been prevented saving millions of dollars.

 3.  We are one of the leading states in obesity, smoking, diabetes, heart disease, stroke/hypertension, and teen pregnancy.  These types of illnesses cost our citizens most of our $14 billion / yr.  With proper care and personal attention these conditions can be controlled and prevented.

 The Emergency Response Commission on the Health Care Crisis has been charged by your state leadership to come up with actions that can begin to solve these challenges.

 It appears at this time there are the following options for taking action:

 1.  Use our health care dollars in a more effective and efficient manner

2.  Put more direct responsibility for maintaining health on individuals:

·          Weight reduction

·          Smoking cessation

·          Moderation in the use of alcohol

·          Healthy diets to decrease heart disease

·          Following drug plans

·          Teenage abstinence and birth control programs

·          Use of childhood restraint systems

·          Enhanced participation in moderate exercise

If you have some solutions please share them with the commission by writing to Chairman ERC, Shelbie King Building, Suite 348, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, AL  35899.

FDB/cmc
Fredric D. Burg MD
Chair Emergency Response Commission Health Care Crisis
State of Alabama
Professor of Pediatrics, UAB
Adjunct Professor of Nursing UAH
Tel #256-824-4293
E-Mail burgf@email.uah.edu
Suite 347 Shelbie King Hall
Huntsville Al. 35899
www.gethealthyalabama.com

Fax 256-824-6462

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