Bismarck Tribune - Bismarck News - Mathern outlines health plan

Mathern outlines health plan

Oct 08, 2008 - 09:45:58 CDT

By BRIANDUGGAN
Bismarck Tribune

Democratic-NPL gubernatorial candidate Tim Mathern unveiled his health care plan on Tuesday, which he said would help expand health insurance coverage to about 65,000 uninsured North Dakotans.

"Health care is breaking the banks of too many middle-class families," Mathern said during a Tuesday press conferenceat St. Alexius Medical Center. "The health care system as we know it is headed for a meltdown."

His plan, which also includes a state-sponsored loan program for rural hospitals and preventative medicine incentives, would cost about $134 million every two years if approved by the Legislature.

Mathern, a state senator from Fargo, said he would increase the maximum income level to enroll children into the state Children's Health Insurance Program from 150 percent of the poverty line to 200 percent or $42,400 for a family of four.

Mathern said about 15,000 North Dakota children go without health insurance, but his Republican opponent Gov. John Hoeven said many of those children are eligible for SCHIP and have not applied for coverage.

"We have to do more outreach," Hoeven said on Tuesday. "We are working very hard to get these people enrolled."

Mathern also offered a plan to extend health care to an estimated 50,000 North Dakotans without health insurance. Under his plan, those people would be able to buy into a state employee health insurance plan that would be more affordable because its price is determined by a state bidding process, Mathern said.

Rural hospitals also would be able to apply for low-interest loans from the Bank of North Dakota to help pay off debts as a result of sluggish Medicaid reimbursements, Mathern said. He said 22 of the state's 27 rural hospitals are in the red.

"There is a fundamental flaw in the health care reimbursement," said Kimber Wraalstad, the chief executive officer of Presentation Medical Center in Rolla who joined Mathern at his Tuesday press conference.

Wraalstad said equipment in hospitals is out of date and is more than 2 years older on average when compared to other hospitals nationally.

Hoeven, in response to Mathern's call for quicker state-funded Medicaid reimbursements, said federal Medicare reimbursements are a larger problem.

Chip Thomas, president of the North Dakota Healthcare Association, said both candidates bring up valid points: Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements need to be fixed.

"(Rural hospitals) are facing some financial challenges and if we don't get some financial solutions for them they're going to facing some difficulties," Thomas said.

Mathern also addressed preventative medicine in his plan, which he said would save the state $2.1 billion over time if less people are sick and not missing work.

He said he would give employers things such as tax credits if they could promote a healthier workforce, adding all schools in the state should have physical education programs.

(Reach reporter Brian Duggan at 223-8482 or www.bismarcktribune. com.)

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Comments

The Point wrote on Oct 10, 2008 8:23 AM:

" Sen. Mathern: Wouldn't it be a better idea to help businesses provide health care plans for their employees, rather than turn our healthcare system into a socialist system? Think about it-if the benefits of the state are already out there, and people are not applying, what makes you think that putting more tax payer money in the pot will solve anything? Plus with all of the bureaucratic red tape in government, half of these people will just get frustrated and give up! Try dealing with SSI, Medicaid, Dept. of Human Serviceses-any of these government-run agencies. Oh, wait that's right you don't have to because you get state benefits-which, by the way are not as great as everyone seems to think they are. Put employers on the hook to provide health insurance, heck, even make it mandatory for any employer who has more than 10 employees-but then give the employer the opportunity to dip into the money. This will encourage those lifetime welfare people the encouragement to get a job! "

Economic Conservative wrote on Oct 9, 2008 9:48 AM:

" Come on Senator, do really want us to beleive that the surplus is going to last forever? With all your proposed programs, the surplus will be gone six months into your first term, so again Senator, I ask you this question, how do you propose to fund these plans without huge tax increases? Senator, give me a reason to vote for you: something other than ice dreams for a better life. "

Senator Tim Mathern wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:53 PM:

" Money come from? You already paid it but got nothing for it. It is sitting some place in Bismarck.

Senator Tim Mathern "

Senator Tim Mathern wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:51 PM:

" Dear Opinion,

You are correct about the challenge of the application process.

It is difficult to get all the details through the press. My plan includes people being able to sign up right at the doctors office. Senator Tim Mathern "

Razors Edge wrote on Oct 8, 2008 12:36 PM:

" Caveman and to caveman:

Health insurance is going up because hospital costs are going up. Insurance companies are there to make a profit. No one denies that. But no matter if it's the state or an insurance company someone has to pay for it. If you have insurance with 10% co-pay and need a $100,000 operation you pay $10,000 for it. The insurance company or state pays the rest. Where do you think they get the money from?

If we make government run healthcare are you prepared for higher taxes? Hospital costs will keep rising. I just read that 50% of Americans make under $31,987 and pay 3% of the income taxes (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Taxes/CutYourTaxes/make-32k-youre-in-the-richer-50percent.aspx). That means most of those people don't pay taxes or pay little. That means everyone else will have to pick up the tab. "

Economic Conservative wrote on Oct 8, 2008 12:10 PM:

" I have two questions about this plan Sen. Mathern: 1) How are you going to fund this plan, and 2) what kind of help does it offer for those of us who are presently spending $10-12,000 a year on private health care plans? You keep telling us about how you will save us taxes and have all these great plans for us, but you keep neglecting to include how you propose to fund them. "

to caveman wrote on Oct 8, 2008 11:23 AM:

" You just outlined the number one problem for our country. It's people looking towards their individual gain at the expense of everyone else. It's time to look at what's good for the country even if it involves a little personal sacrifice. "

Caveman wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:43 AM:

" To "a place for that" - You might change your tune on that if you find yourself with a pre-existing condition, and therefore virtually uninsurable. Have a family, we'll insure all but the kid with asthma. This crap goes on every day, and it's time the gov't stepped in to ensure that some level of reasonable-ness is put into the system. This is not socialiism, it's disallowing the greedy and predatory health insurance companies the ability to stack the deck in their favor, and still argue when they occasionally lose! "

My Opinion wrote on Oct 8, 2008 10:17 AM:

" While all this "sounds good", I don't think this will work - especially in regards to getting children insured. I know of a number of families that qualify for care yet will not go to Social Services and apply because the county Social Services makes it so difficult and unpleasant for the application process. In addition, what about starting some "free" clinics. Clinics where people can go for care regardless of income and receive it and then not get hounded and badgered over the bills they can't pay for. There was supposed to be a clinic run like this in Towner - I called and was told it would cost $110.00 for an appointment. Well, needless to say, I went without. I find it interesting there is no public hospital within 200 miles of my small county. All the hospitals are privately owned and if you have gone for care and you owe them money, they will not treat you without getting cash up front the next time. So...people don't go for care. As long as this is how medicine works up here, people will just plain go without and so will their children. All he pie-in-the sky designs of Mr. Hoeven and Mr. Mathern aren't addressing any of these issues - changing the way people have to apply for benefits (thru Social Services) and the way people are treated at the private hospitals. It's truly a shame the lack of ability for people to get medical care here. "

deen wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:55 AM:

" Mathern has sure promised a lot of things, but I have not heard him talk about how much it would all cost. "

a place for that wrote on Oct 8, 2008 7:38 AM:

" There is a place for this "first step" into socialized health care and it's not here in the United States. This is a free country where the government is not supposed to get involved in personal issues. Quit trying to redefine the country we live in. Go to a socialist country if you want to be a socialist. "

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