Page 12 - April 2017 Newspaper

Cover Story: Business of Health Care Conference Hosted

by UM School of Business Focuses on Impact of 2016 Election

Continued from page 1
“put America first,” Jha noted that every Florida Blue’s parent company. age in a world of global
aspect of health care has global issues Richard Pollack, president and CEO, uncertainty.”
and components. “Would we be better American Hospital Association looked at While U.S. health care
off by shutting our borders?” he said. the 2016 election’s implications for mem- businesses will continue to
“The answer is a resounding no. Instead ber hospitals, physicians and insurers, attract capital due to demo-
we must make investments in public along with;; James L. Madara, M.D., EVP graphics, Kinkead said
health to protect the American people in and CEO, American Medical Assoc - political risk is a growing
an interdependent world.” iation; Marilyn Tavenner, president and concern for investors.
Anuj Mehrotra, dean of the School of CEO, America's Health Insurance Plans; “With the high level of
Business, welcomed more than 850 Halee Fischer-Wright, M.D., president polarization in Congress,
health care executives, physicians, con- and CEO, Medical Group Management the GOP might push a pro-
sultants, and students to the school’s Association and Joseph Fifer, president gram through now, only to
sixth annual Business of Health Care and CEO, Healthcare Financial Man - have the Democrats over-
conference, which featured two former agement Association. Donna E. Shalala Kathleen Sebelius turn it when they come
U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human “We need to keep the positive parts of back into power,” he said.
Services, Kathleen Sebelius, who served the Affordable Care Act (ACA), includ- officer, Cleveland Clinic Florida; and N. “That makes it a challenge to determine
under President Obama, and Professor ing the movement from fee-for-service to Narendra Kini, M.D., CEO, Miami where to invest at the right valuation.”
Donna E. Shalala, former University of reimbursement for quality and patient Children's Health System.
Miami president and President Clinton’s outcomes,” said Tavenner. “However, “We all have to make decisions for our Insights from HHS Secretaries
HHS secretary. changes to the funding model could be institutions in a very uncertain health care In the closing session, "A
“At a time of great uncertainty over disruptive, particularly for patients with environment,” Altschuler said. “But we Conversation with Secretaries of Health
federal and state health care policies, our chronic illnesses.” know that the ability to compete on cost and Human Services," Shalala and
speakers provided valuable insights on will really be critical for our systems.” Sebelius gave their “insider” insights on
the delivery, cost and quality of patient Policies Under Trump Migoya, Alvarez and Kini agreed, not- the ACA health care reform proposals
care, access to insurance coverage, the A session on "Health Care Policies ing that their systems were undertaking now being floated in Washington.
worldwide health care labor market, and under the Trump Administration" fea- capital improvement programs, while “Repeal is easy, but keep your eye
business and investment opportunities tured Stephanie Carlton, engagement focusing on lowering costs and improv- focused on the replace aspect,” said
regionally, nationally, and globally,” said manager/expert, McKinsey & Company, ing care. “The number one way to reduce Shalala. “Taking giant steps to change
Steven G. Ullmann, chair and professor, and former health policy advisor to for- costs is through patient population man- health policy requires certain elements,
Health Sector Management and Policy, mer Florida Gov. Jeb Bush; and Steven T. agement,” Migoya said. “That will create including a president who is passionate
and director, Center for Health Sector Parente, Minnesota Insurance Industry opportunities for Jackson to share risks about reform, can avoid distractions, and
Management and Policy, which organ- Chair University of Minnesota, and for- and revenue, while delivering coordinat- is willing to use a great deal of political
ized the annual conference. mer health policy advisor to Sen. John ed care.” capital to get it passed.”
The sold-out conference – presented McCain (R-Ariz.) Shalala added that mixing coverage
by Florida Blue– included a networking Noting that neither participant was an Implications for Business and cost issues is a recipe for failure.
breakfast and buffet luncheon with advisor to the Trump administration, and Investment “President Johnson put more money in
exhibits from conference sponsors and a Parente said many of the concepts of the Tax reform, a border adjustment tax, the budget when launching Medicaid
post-event reception. Attendees paid ACA were embedded in a 1991 immigration restrictions and a loosening and Medicare,” she said. “In terms of pol-
close attention to the keynote speakers Republican bill. “GOP House Speaker of the Dodd Frank financial regulations itics, that’s very different than pulling
and panelists throughout the day, lining Paul Ryan’s plan might include tax cred- have global implications for business and money out of the system.”
up to ask questions after each session. “I its, guaranteed coverage for pre-existing investment, according to Richard Clarke, After winning election in 2008, Obama
was very impressed by the high caliber of conditions and for young adults to age former president and CEO, Healthcare saw an opportunity to increase health
the speakers and panelists, as well as the 26,” he added. “However, there may be Financial Management Association and coverage for millions of uninsured
well-balanced discussions of these health less Medicaid coverage and more people current member, Board of Directors, Americans, Sebelius said. “He had seen
policy issues,” said Dawn Thomas, pub- buying catastrophic insurance plans in Mercy Health Ministry. his mother die at a young age, while
lic health analyst for the U.S. Centers for the private market.” “Capital allocations, merger and acqui- fighting with insurers about benefits,”
Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In debating issues like coverage, costs sition (M&A) opportunities and chal- she said. “Health care reform became a
South Florida health care consultant and quality, Americans should ask, lenges to global supply chains are among personal issue for him, even though the
Mel Rothberg, CEO, Rothberg Associates “What kind of health care system do we the issues up for consideration,” said economists said ‘don’t do it.’ In terms of
Inc., also praised the speakers and topics. want as a country?” said Carlton. “If we Clarke, who moderated a panel on coverage, the ACA worked and 20 mil-
“Health care is a very diverse sector that had greater transparency and a well- "Election Impact on the Business of lion more people now have coverage.”
includes the research and development functioning market, our system could Health Care" with Karthic Jayaraman, Sebelius said she hopes the GOP-con-
of new therapies, drugs and medical operate much more efficiently and pro- managing director, The Carlyle Group in trolled Congress can come up with a plan
devices,” he said. “This forum was ideal vide better outcomes at a lower cost for London; Brian Kinkead, vice chairman, to provide better insurance with lower
for bringing together the patient, consumers.” Global Healthcare Group, Bank of costs. But shifting Medicaid funds to the
provider and business perspectives on America Merrill Lynch; and Jacques states through block grants in order to
these challenging issues.” Impact on South Florida Mulder, global health sector leader, EY. reduce the federal budget would be likely
The panel "Election Impact on South “We are seeing a move toward global to cut reimbursements for physicians
The Impact Florida Health Care Sectors" brought diversification, such as U.S. provider and other providers, she added. “Until
on Health Care Sectors together Steven Altschuler, Sr., M.D., companies investing in Europe,” said we see a Congressional bill, it will be dif-
For the first time ever, leaders of five SVP for Health Affairs, University of Jayaraman. “But only companies with ficult to assess the impact,” she said. “But
major provider associations joined Miami, and CEO, UHealth - the differentiated products or services can Americans do share similar values about
together in a panel discussion on “The University of Miami Health System, cross borders successfully. We look for healthcare, including providing extra
Impact on Health Care Sectors,” moder- moderator, with Carlos A. Migoya, presi- businesses that can be efficient providers support for children and the most vul-
ated by Patrick J. Geraghty, CEO, dent and CEO, Jackson Health System; or innovators, but what matters the most nerable people. I hope any reform pro-
GuideWell Mutual Holding Corporation, Orlando L. Alvarez, Jr., chief strategy is having a leadership team that can man- posal reflects those values.”

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12 April 2017 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News