Health Care and You – MO Bill SB1283

AUTHOR: Crystal Fontaine

Eat Healthy. Get up and Exercise. Live Healthy. These are things that we attempt to accomplish and that other’s strive to help us achieve every day. Perhaps we are not always the healthiest person on the bloc; however, we strive to not get sick so we won’t have to go visit that doctor who never seems to diagnose us right. Furthermore, it costs money. Despite all of this, Missouri legislation attempts to create a working health system that at least pleases most of us.

The act SB1283 establishes the Missouri Health Cabinet. The purpose of the Cabinet is to ensure that public policy within the state relating to health is developed so health services are designed, distributed, and administered in a holistic and incorporated manner in order to improve Missourian health. The Cabinet will consist of various state members such as the Governor, the director of the departments of Health and Senior Services, etc. Also, a Health Policy Council will be created to assist the cabinet and will replace the State boards of Health and Senior Services.

The bill also launches the Insure Missouri program, which is to offer health care coverage to low-income working citizens. The maximum participation point depends on funds appropriated and each eligible individual may have an established care account if they can provide payments for their participation. As the saying goes, zilch is free.  Effective as of January 1, 2009, there will be modifications within the eligibility restrictions and quality obligations for the Missouri Health Insurance Pool. Under these modifications, the lifetime benefit cap is increased to $2 million while the Pool must offer one plan that meets the criteria for Medicare and Medicaid for uninsurable persons qualified under the Insure program.

But wait, there’s more! SB1283 requires that hospitals report whenever someone (or more specifically, a physician) makes a big mistake, such as accidentally leaving a scalpel in a patient or death due to medication error. Is that a lawsuit, I smell? These big mistakes are to be reported to the patient safety organization, which will publish an annual report providing details to the public such as the number and rate per patient. For some reason, the thought of a surgeon leaving his scalpel in my body makes me a little queasy. Perhaps hospitals should screen perspective doctors for forgetfulness. In addition, the act creates the Missouri Free Clinics Fund, which is to be used by Missouri Free clinics (we have free clinics?) to enhance infrastructure and strengthen their sustainability so they may assist a larger quantity of people more efficiently.

SB1283 highlights many topics relating to health care. Excluding the issues mentioned above, the bill addresses various other things such as Small Employer Health Insurance Availability Act and Cafeteria Plans. It is necessary to address health care because it is a vastly important topic within Missouri and the nation, especially during a time with the need for change.