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Board
of Health Policy Goals and Priority Work Projects
Goal 2: Increase access to preventive services
Access Committee:
David Crump
Lead Staff:
Craig
McLaughlin
Note: The
Board's Access Committee currently supports two Board goals: (1)
strengthen the public health system
and (2) increase access to preventive services
In
1999-2000, the Board developed its menu
of critical health services,
which furthers the access discussion by addressing the question: Access to
what? The Board published the menu and supporting materials in the July
2001 Final Report on Access to
Critical Health Services.
Access
continued to be a priority focus for the Board during 2001-03.
According to the approved 2001-03 work plan, the Board circulated and promoted
the menu, collaborated with local health jurisdictions to develop and use localized
lists, and explored ways to incorporate the list into the development of an
insurance product (the state's Basic Health Plan).
In
December 2002, the Board approved a detailed status
report on its efforts. The report summarized trends in medical
care financing, reviewed the increasing support in the medical literature
for an evidence-based approach like the Board’s menu, cited examples of
how local health jurisdictions are promoting access, and called for
continued efforts to use the menu to inform state and local efforts to
establish priorities for improving access. It also made several recommendations, including:
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The
Public Health Improvement Partnership should consider creating a new
Committee on Access to Critical Health Service, and involve new partners
such as health foundations and professional associations in the
committee’s work.
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Local
health jurisdictions should consider partnering with the Washington Health
Foundation to host community forums on access issues across the state.
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Local
health jurisdictions should consider building local coalitions around
access issues with local health providers and area businesses.
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Public
purchasers should consider expanding their use of the Board’s menu and
other evidence-based approaches to guide “value-based” purchasing.
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Designers of benefit packages should give equal weight to evidence about
the efficacy and public health value of mental, behavioral, and dental
health services.
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Washington
Health Foundation and the Department of Health should together consider
modifying the “County Health Profiles” to include more information
that tracks access to critical health services.
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Washington
residents should consider two key questions: “Can we afford the
healthcare choices that we want?” and “Are there any healthcare
services, other than immunizations, that government should take steps to
guarantee for all residents?”
This
access work has been forwarded as part of the Board’s continuing
contribution to the Public Health Improvement Partnership (PHIP). Members
and staff will participate in PHIP committees and the Board will continue
to participate in the partnership's work on access.
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