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Senator Enzi - 10 Steps To Transform Health Care in America
U.S. Senator Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) recently unveiled his "Ten Steps to Transform Health Care in America" legislation that builds on numerous health care proposals to expand access to health insurance and health care providers while improving the quality of health care in the United States. Senator Enzi recently conducted a 1,100-mile and ten-city tour of Wyoming to discuss the plan with Wyoming citizens from all walks of life.
"This 10-step proposal reflects ideas and concepts from a host of proposals already introduced—it encapsulates the best of the best ideas and puts forward new, innovative approaches. The hallmark of this proposal is to provide more options, more choices, and more control to every American."
Enzi’s proposal builds on the bipartisan work in the last Congress to allow market-based pooling, and equalizes tax treatment of health insurance for all Americans. It proposes new market-based solutions that will enable uninsured working families to purchase private health insurance. The bill will expand choices and coverage and give individuals real control over their health care. It also includes provisions to enhance health care quality and reduce costs.
"I always believe that we can agree on 80 percent of the issues and on 80 percent of each issue, and that if we focus on that 80 percent we can do great things for the American people," Enzi said.
More details on the legislation and ten-city tour are available at: www.enzi.senate.gov.
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Wyoming Business Coalition on Health Announces New Projectt
The Wyoming Business Coalition on Health is a new organization with a focus on addressing healthcare cost and quality. The Coalition, based out of Casper, represents a group of top corporate decision-makers from across the state that have recognized they are the ultimate payers of the vast majority of healthcare services through the premiums they pay to cover their employees and through the taxes they pay which cover all public employees and beneficiaries.
As its first project the group is working on implementing the Asheville Project, also known as HealthMapRx – here in Wyoming. The Asheville Project began in 1996 as an effort by the City of Asheville, North Carolina, a self-insured employer, to provide education and personal oversight for employees with chronic health problems such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and high cholesterol. Through the Asheville Project, employees with these conditions were provided with intensive education. Patients were teamed with community pharmacists who monitored data from glucose meters, food and exercise diaries and made sure they were using their medications correctly. Employees, retirees, and dependents with diabetes soon began experiencing improved A1C levels, lower total health care costs and fewer sick days.
Two identical meetings will be held in Casper – a dinner on April 21st and a breakfast on April 22nd - in order to gather together those who work with diabetic patients and those with cardiovascular disease to discuss the project. To reserve a seat or get additional information, please contact Anne S. Ladd at (307) 262-2550 or anneladd@bresnan.net. .
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WMS President's Message: The Breadth of Medicine
During fall 2007, while the Wyoming Medical Society conducted a search for its new executive director, WMS staff and leadership were busy planning the upcoming 2008 WMS Annual Meeting to be held at the picturesque Jackson Lake Lodge from June 12 - 14. The theme for the meeting is “The Breadth of Medicine,” a reflection of the immense diversity in the practice of medicine. Watch for your registration packet coming via mail very soon.
As you look at ages of physicians who practice medicine or are in medical training, you see that the span of years easily covers over 60 years! Some of our youngest physicians in the very beginning of their medical careers may be only 22 years old, while our most senior physicians are retired and over 90 years old. It is quite a span for a group of people with the common goal of providing excellent medical care. At this year’s meeting, WMS has tried to bring together that diversity of age in our education program so that we can all embrace the opportunity to work alongside one another and learn from each other.
During the 2007 WMS Annual Meeting, our education agenda included a discussion of the future of primary care whereas this year we will look at the future of specialty care. The expanse of specialty care is so immense and complicated that it really is hard to imagine some days. The technological specialties seem almost to have grown from yesterday’s Star Trek movies. This year’s agenda will include Dr. Jack Glode, cardiologist and member of the Wyoming Health Care Commission, Dr. Christina Stefka, a geriatric physician from Cheyenne, and Jarod McAteer, a medical student with aspirations for a career in a medical specialization.
We and our medical colleagues provide medical care locally, statewide, and nationally. However, there is a growing interest from practicing physicians and those in training programs to practice medicine internationally. The lure of adventure or the recognition of a worldly need has led many physicians to consider care overseas in areas of the world that are destitute of many basic human needs and medical benefits, such as clean water, immunizations, and proper nutrition. At this year’s meeting, the WMS will also present an introduction to global healthcare. Presenters include Dr. Warren Heffron, past chairman of the University of New Mexico Family Medicine Department and an internationally recognized leader in global healthcare. Dr. Heffron will be joined by Dr. Mike Miller, Casper Family Practice Residency staff physician and leader of a residency effort to teach international healthcare. They will present an overview of global healthcare, why we should know about it, why young physicians are interested, why residencies are teaching it, and how we all can become involved.
Also, for the first time in WMS history, this year’s educational meeting will also contain a collection of offerings from three Wyoming chapters of medical specialty organizations, with a broad and organized approach. The Wyoming Academy of Pediatrics will present a four hour session on June 14th, the Wyoming Academy of Family Physicians will present a 3-4 hour session on June 12th, and the Wyoming Chapter of the College of Physicians will present six hours of educational sessions during afternoon sessions on June 12th an 13th. All of these sessions are in addition to the usual education sessions offered at the annual meeting. The convergence of these specialty societies has the potential to significantly enhance the enjoyment and benefits for all involved.
I would be remiss if I did not alert you to the featured presentation at the President’s banquet on June 13th by Dr. William Close, an internationally respected physician from Big Piney, Wyoming. Dr. Close’s career emulates the meeting’s theme, The Breadth of Medicine. Trained as a surgeon, having provided care for the socially highest and lowest people in Africa for 16 years, and author of award winning books, including Ebola and Beyond the Storm, Dr. Close will share with us a lifetime of medical care and compassion for his patients. You won’t want to miss his presentation.
I invite all WMS members, non-members, students, residents and fellow physicians from outside Wyoming to join our physicians who are working for the common good of our patients and our profession..
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Residents Invited to Participate in National Fitness Challenge
Wyoming Governor Dave Freudenthal, the Wyoming Department of Health and the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports are inviting state residents to take part in the “National President’s Challenge.”
The National President's Challenge is an online-based, six-week health challenge that involves tracking physical activity. States will be competing against each other based on participation rates, and individuals may earn awards.
“I’m encouraging every Wyoming resident to be a member of our state’s online group,” Freudenthal said. “We can each choose to live a little healthier and join this challenge to compete against other states.”
Dr. Brent Sherard, Wyoming Department of Health director and state health officer, said “Regardless of our personal fitness level, we can all benefit from more physical activity. It’s easy to find healthy activities you really like and not that difficult to make a difference in your personal health.”
After registering, participants are given an activity log and can log in each day to track their activity. “With nearly 100 activities to choose from, I expect anyone can find at least one they enjoy,” Sherard said.
To learn more about the challenge and to register, visit www.presidentschallenge.org. Follow the links to register. To support the Wyoming group in this challenge, include 68127 in the “Group ID Number” box and State of Wyoming for your “Group Member ID/Name.”
There is no cost to participate. The program ends during National Physical Fitness and Sports Month on May 15.
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