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	June 14, 2004 Sims' Health Advisory Task Force issues recommendations: Integrated regional partnership a must for quality, affordable health care King County Executive Ron Sims today strongly supported recommendations from his Health Advisory Task Force that called for creation of a state-of-the-art health care system that will achieve better care, healthier people and affordable costs. "If the current rate of cost increases experienced by King County government continues at approximately 15 percent per year, the county will see an increase in premium spending from $124 million per year in 2003 to $249 million per year in 2008," said Sims. "This staggering rate of increase and the underlying factors contributing to the county's' trends are the same issues threatening to overwhelm employers locally, regionally and nationally." Sims convened the broad based leadership group comprised of health professionals, major self insuring businesses (Costco, Microsoft, Starbucks, Washington Mutual) and governments (Seattle, State of Washington) to develop short and long-term strategies to slow escalating costs and improve quality in health care. The committee, chaired by Dr. Alvin Thompson and Dr. Ed Wagner worked for six months reviewing best practices around the country as well as what is working here and in other communities. Their conclusion was that the time was right to move forward as a region. Dr. Alvin Thompson Health Advisory Task Force Co-Chair Dr. Ed Wagner Health Advisory Task Force Co-Chair Sims said he refused to "accept that there are only two choices: reducing benefits to our employees and their families, or paying crippling annual increases. Tweaking the edges of the problem will no longer work. That is why I went to the experts for help in reviving our ailing health care system." Recommendations (243K .pdf) focus on using scientific evidence to guide providers and patients, establishing consistent practices for treatment, measuring and reporting on quality, and stressing preventative practices to reduce costs and increase the quality of health care. The findings were that improved quality leads to decreased costs and to increased health. Sims, who thanked the task force members for their outstanding work, accepted the recommendations, which include the following: Create a partnership of providers, patients, plans and purchasers to measure care, report results and provide financial incentives that help lead to better health outcomes at more affordable costs. Establish incentives for doctors to share data and to use the latest evidence based clinical information to guide treatment decisions. Provide information, education and support to programs that help people get healthy and stay healthy, like help to stop smoking, lose weight or better manage chronic illnesses. Develop incentives to use generic or preferred prescription drugs where appropriate. Focus on specific areas (such as asthma and diabetes) that will improve health care quality, make costs more affordable and improve health outcomes. "Our task force members recognize that no one sector of the health care system can achieve cost and quality outcomes alone," said Dr. Alvin Thompson, task force co-chair. "We also realize that if one sector is not working collaboratively with the others, we will not be able to achieve our intended outcomes." "Successful achievement of these outcomes calls for the active participation of all health care sectors," added Dr. Ed Wagner, co-chair. "Clinicians, hospitals, purchasers, employers, health care plans and patients who live and work in our region all play a critical role in aligning health care benefits, health plan products, clinical interventions, care delivery system, consumer education and financial reimbursement systems necessary to make improvements in quality and contain costs. The need for data sharing between all sectors is critical to success." The task force recommended that Executive Sims immediately begin a process that will lead to the creation of the partnership as presented in the report. It is recommended that those organizations interested in funding a partnership will be formed and financed and be in operation within the next six months. "By beginning immediately to tackle the serious problems confronting the health system, the partnership will ensure the existence of a high quality, affordable health system in the Puget Sound region," said Sims. "King County is committed to pursuing establishment of a partnership and will step up to launch this initiative. A healthier region is within our reach, and now is the time to make it happen." Related links: Health Advisory Task Force Web site Recommendations (243K .pdf) Appendices (106K .pdf) Updated: June 14, 2004 Executive's home Executive's news Executive's site map | E-mail the Executive King County | Executive | News | Services | Comments | Search Links to external sites do not constitute endorsements by King County. By visiting this and other King County web pages, you expressly agree to be bound by terms and conditions of the site. The details.