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News Release
GOVERNOR PERDUE ISSUES EXECUTIVE ORDER ATLANTA -- Governor Sonny Perdue today signed an executive order encouraging Georgia businesses to make their employee health insurance programs more transparent, enabling more informed health care choices by employees. Governor Perdue was joined at the announcement by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt, who started a nationwide initiative last fall to have 60 percent of all insured Americans covered by a more transparent insurance plan from either their public or private employer. “More informed health care choices lead to a more competitive marketplace, which will improve health care in Georgia,” Governor Perdue said. “The companies here today that are committing to this important initiative are helping us transform the quality and value of health care coverage in our state.” Representatives from a number of major Georgia employers attended the announcement today. Georgia employers that have committed to Secretary Leavitt’s initiative include The Coca-Cola Company, United Parcel Service, WellStar Health System, Piedmont Health Care, AT&T, Aetna and the Georgia Institute of Technology. Last October, Governor Perdue created the Health Information Technology and Transparency Advisory Board to advise the Department of Community Health (DCH) on the introduction of marketplace transparency, the development of a statewide health care quality and cost reporting program, and on applying industry best practices that facilitate the use of electronic health records. In his Fiscal Year 2008 budget, Governor Perdue recommended $1 million for DCH to implement the Health Information Technology pilot program to promote health care transparency. “I appreciate the leadership that Dr. Rhonda Medows and her team at DCH has shown on these important issues,” Governor Perdue added. “She has pulled together major stakeholder groups to form the Georgia Health Information Technology and Transparency Board, which is making significant progress looking at the state of health care in Georgia.” Secretary Leavitt has traveled the country signing up major employers to his initiative, including a trip last month to Detroit where the country’s major three automakers committing to providing a value-driven health care plan for employees. “At this point, aggressive efforts are underway to invite all of America’s public and private sector employers to join the federal government in committing to four cornerstone actions to achieve better health care and lower health costs,” Secretary Leavitt said. “Employers can help their employees identify and select high quality health care at competitive prices. And when a substantial number of employers commit to these improvements, our health care system as a whole will improve for all Americans.” Former U.S. Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich also spoke at the event. Gingrich has been a champion of health care transparency, advocating for wider distribution of information about health care costs, providers and insurance programs. The four “cornerstone” actions are: public reporting of the quality of care delivered by health care providers; public reporting of the price of care; commitment to health information technology standards; and commitment to use incentives for high quality care, competitive costs and consumer choice. The Center for Health Transformation, Georgia Medical Care Foundation, Georgia Hospital Association, Georgia Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and U.S. Chamber of Commerce were also in attendance and expressed support for today’s action. The federal government was the first to embrace the four cornerstone commitments, with President George Bush’s Aug. 22 Executive Order. This action committed federal health programs (including Medicare, Veterans Affairs, Indian Health Service and the Federal Employees Health Benefits program) to the “cornerstone” actions. A key part of the initiative for value-driven health care is the adoption of consistent and reliable standards for quality and cost measurement to enable consumers, health providers and payers alike to compare the quality and value of services. Secretary Leavitt said that the initiative depends on collaboration between stakeholders in the employer, health care provider and insurer communities. He also noted that development of quality measures is being carried out with the leadership of the nation’s leading health care provider organizations. “This initiative is about getting quality care, and the quality measures that are created will be crucial for achieving better care at lower costs for the people of Georgia and all Americans,” Secretary Leavitt said. For more information on this initiative, go to www.hhs.gov/transparency.
### Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news. Last revised: February, 12 2007 |
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