August 14, 2009
St. Mary’s Medical Center CEO takes stand on healthcare reform
By PAUL R. LEINGANG (Message editor)
In response to a request from the Message, a statement was provided as the “Overall Stance on Healthcare Reform” of Tim Flesch, president and chief executive officer of St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville.
Flesch met with Rep. Brad Ellsworth, D-Ind., in April 2008, and has another meeting scheduled with Ellsworth on Aug. 19.
“We believe that the United States healthcare system is in need of reform,” Flesch said. “As we consider that reform, we need to ensure that persons have access to high quality healthcare services. This includes improved transparency and the ability of patients to navigate the healthcare delivery system.”
Coverage should be univeral, he said.
“We also need to move toward 100 percent coverage for the American population. Most proposals have targeted 95 percent coverage or above.”
Insurance rules should be changed, Flesch said.
“We also need to reform the insurance rules to create shared obligation and responsibility for coverage.” He said that a proposal to eliminate pre-existing conditions as a reason to deny insurance coverage would be one of the ways to support this principle.
“In addition, health insurance needs to become affordable and equitable,” he said. “Creating a minimum level of coverage benefits and standardization of insurance policies are additional steps in that direction.”
In regard to the poor and vulnerable, Flesch said, “Medicaid expansions and premium subsidies for the poor are steps in this direction.”
Flesch said “we need to en-sure economic viability through shared financial responsibility. Individuals, employers, physicians, hospitals, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies and other suppliers should participate in the financing of healthcare reform.”