Washington Roundtable releases new report analyzing state’s health care system; outlines key principles for improving quality and reducing costs

 

SEATTLE – February 15, 2008 – Washington state health care spending has consumed an increasingly large share of the state budget during the last decade and, consequently, is eroding funding for other priority services such as education and infrastructure.  At the same time, there is no clear evidence that the state is achieving health care outcomes commensurate with its investment.  Those are the primary conclusions reached in a report released today by the Washington Roundtable.

 

“State competitiveness – not to mention the future livelihood of our state’s citizens – will be seriously undermined if the state continues to allow health care spending to crowd out funding for other priorities, particularly public education,” said Steve Mullin, Washington Roundtable president.

 

In its new report, “Establishing a High Quality, Value-Driven Health Care System in Washington State,” the statewide business organization puts forward a series of recommendations for establishing a high quality, value-drive health care system in Washington state. The Roundtable analysis concludes that such a system would produce better health outcomes and reduce the growth trend in state health care spending, thereby protecting core funding for education.

 

This marks the beginning of what will likely be a long-term Roundtable effort in state health care policy.

 

“Clearly, improving health outcomes and reducing costs will require a lot of heavy lifting from a wide variety of players.  We look forward to playing a collaborative and constructive role in the state’s endeavor,” Mullin said.

The new report was developed in consultation with the Seattle office of Mercer Health & Benefits.

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