ISSUES

Access to Care - Nearly 47 million Americans are uninsured. Hospitals are the health care safety net for the nation. Every day the caregivers in America's hospitals see that the absence of coverage is a significant barrier to getting people the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. We must focus on helping people obtain health coverage, helping businesses offer health coverage to employees and ensure access to critical services for all Mississippians.

Affordability - As the hub of health care in a community, hospitals play a critical role in keeping health care costs down.  Hospitals are working to focus on wellness, better manage chronic disease, speed adoption of information technology, improve how care is delivered to each patient, increase transparency of hospital quality and better understand and reduce variation in care. (Link to article on keeping health care affordable: http://www.aha.org/aha/issues/Affordability/0708-affordabilitypaper.pdf)

Emergency Readiness - As part of America's vital health care infrastructure, hospitals play a key role in disaster readiness throughout our country. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, hospitals have stepped up their readiness efforts in order to be better prepared in responding to not only traditional disaster threats, but an even more real potential of terrorist attacks, including the use of chemical, biological, or nuclear.

Medicaid - Over its nearly 40-year history, Medicaid has become the nation's health care safety net, serving as a buffer to the perils of an uncertain economy by providing access to health services to those who cannot afford private insurance. This role has never been more critical than it is today, when nearly 51 million poor, disabled and elderly individuals rely on Medicaid for care. Mississippi Medicaid facts

Medicare - Medicare is a federal health insurance program established by the US Congress in 1965 as Title 18 of the Social Security Act. Coverage began in July of 1966. Medicare is designed to assist individuals aged 65 and older, some disabled individuals under the age of 65, as well as patients with end-stage renal (kidney) disease (ESRD). Medicare coverage is tied to eligibility for Social Security or Railroad Retirement benefits. However, persons receiving early retirement benefits from Social Security are not eligible for Medicare until they turn 65.

Quality and Patient Safety - Delivering the right care at the right time in the right setting is the core mission of hospitals across the country.   

Rural Health Care - Rural hopsitals face great pressures as government payments decline due to their small size, modest assets and financial reserves, and higher percentage of Medicare patients since rural populations are typically older than average urban populations.

Workforce - Hospital care, at its core, is about people caring for people. Yet combined pressures - a shrinking workforce, an aging population, financial concerns, increased demand and other stresses - have translated into a severe personnel deficit.