WKOW Madison
With numerous progressive health care programs already in place in the state, Wisconsin hospitals are better prepared than most to handle the impacts of the federal reform bill.
Plus, they've got plenty of time to adapt. Some provisions in the bill will be phased in over a decade.
Hospital officials say they know change will come, but it will come slowly.
Changes will happen across the hospital landscape.
Emergency rooms, now often backlogged with uninsured patients, could see a slight decrease in patients not needing ER care.
"In the longer term, we will see more people having regular primary care rather than just crisis care in the emergency room," said Michael Heifetz, St. Mary's Hospital vice president of governmental affairs.
The new health care reform bill extends coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, and bans insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions.
"In Wisconsin and particularly in Madison it may not have the same level of impact it does elsewhere in the country," Heifetz said. "Wisconsin has been a leader in expanding Medicare and other public programs the last 10 to 15 years."
Programs like Badger Care and Senior Care put Wisconsin ahead of the pack.
At 8.5 percent, Wisconsin has the second-lowest uninsured rate in the U.S. Only Hawaii is lower, at 8.2 percent. Texas comes in last. Nearly 25 percent of people there have no health insurance, according to 2008 U.S. Census numbers.
"We're a leg up on the rest of the country, and we're looking forward to them catching up," Heifetz said.
Wisconsin representatives say the badger state inspired many of the provisions in the health care reform bill.
"The hospitals, large clinics and private groups in the state have been some of my best mentors on this legislation," said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, (D) Madison. "Some really terrific ideas come from our state and our practitioners."
Heifetz said St. Mary's Hospital is prepared for any kind of patient influx, due to the health care reform bill.
He points to population trends. Dane County grew by 54,000 people in the last decade. All the providers in the community have had to respond to that.
Plus, they've got plenty of time to adapt. Some provisions in the bill will be phased in over a decade.
Hospital officials say they know change will come, but it will come slowly.
Changes will happen across the hospital landscape.
Emergency rooms, now often backlogged with uninsured patients, could see a slight decrease in patients not needing ER care.
"In the longer term, we will see more people having regular primary care rather than just crisis care in the emergency room," said Michael Heifetz, St. Mary's Hospital vice president of governmental affairs.
The new health care reform bill extends coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, and bans insurance companies from denying people with pre-existing conditions.
"In Wisconsin and particularly in Madison it may not have the same level of impact it does elsewhere in the country," Heifetz said. "Wisconsin has been a leader in expanding Medicare and other public programs the last 10 to 15 years."
Programs like Badger Care and Senior Care put Wisconsin ahead of the pack.
At 8.5 percent, Wisconsin has the second-lowest uninsured rate in the U.S. Only Hawaii is lower, at 8.2 percent. Texas comes in last. Nearly 25 percent of people there have no health insurance, according to 2008 U.S. Census numbers.
"We're a leg up on the rest of the country, and we're looking forward to them catching up," Heifetz said.
Wisconsin representatives say the badger state inspired many of the provisions in the health care reform bill.
"The hospitals, large clinics and private groups in the state have been some of my best mentors on this legislation," said Rep. Tammy Baldwin, (D) Madison. "Some really terrific ideas come from our state and our practitioners."
Heifetz said St. Mary's Hospital is prepared for any kind of patient influx, due to the health care reform bill.
He points to population trends. Dane County grew by 54,000 people in the last decade. All the providers in the community have had to respond to that.
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