By Paul Kusuda
When growing up in California, all during the month of January, I heard the Japanese words Shinnen Omedeto. They were used in greeting, whether the first day or the last day of January. They meant "Happy New Year!" So, to each of you, Shinnen Omedeto!
In the previous issue, I wrote about the press conference I attended to hear the announcement by Senator Mark Miller and
The Wisconsin Health Security Act is a plan to provide quality comprehensive health care to all Wisconsin residents -- rich or poor, young or old, regardless of current or past medical history, current health condition, or employment status.
Administrative costs, waiting time, and red tape are drastically reduced. It replaces hundreds of different health insurance plans with one program to be administered by a to-be-created Department of Health Planning and Finance under the direction and supervision of a Health Policy Board. That board will be comprised of 11 members, of whom five are " ... nominated by the Governor and with the advice and consent of the senate appointed ..." The remaining members are "... elected by and from the current membership of each of the six regional consumer health councils..."
It may be of interest that the Bill explicitly states that the five gubernatorial appointees must "... reflect as much as possible a balance of gender, race, age, sexual orientation, ethnicity, religion, geographic area, and the interests of management, labor, and individuals with disabilities."
The Health Policy Board will direct and supervise the new department; therefore, its decisions will have far-reaching and long-lasting effects on health care service provision. The Bill recognizes that and has a built-in-method to assure minimization of political influence by establishing a six-year term. A member will serve six years and if reelected or reappointed, for an additional six years. The beginning members will not all serve six years; thus enabling staggering terms from the very beginning. None of the members "... may be a health care provider ... an administrator or owner of a health care facility or organization, or an elected public official."
If the Bill is passed and when the plan is in operation, all Wisconsin residents will be eligible for necessary medical services for maintaining health or for diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation. Prevention is emphasized, so special efforts will be made to assure overall physical, emotional, psychosocial fitness and equilibrium. That will mean focus on health education and on medical recommendations pertaining to food; general physical and psychological fitness; avoidance or minimal reliance on non-health extras such as smoking, non-prescriptive drugs or medications; or staying away from excessive use of alcoholic or other beverages. The idea is that prevention activities will save much misery and medical costs later on.
Of course, coverage will include diagnosis, treatment, or rehabilitation following any injury, disability, or disease. Hospital and clinic services, office visits and house calls will be covered. Other coverage include services provided by physicians, dentists, social workers, nurses, and other licensed, registered, or certified professionals; prescription drugs, health promotion, and illness or injury prevention; long-term care, including home and nursing home care, and community health centers; and mental health services, and alcohol and other drug rehabilitation services. In other words, needed health-related services will be covered, with freedom of choice being an assured right.
According to a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report cited in The Capital Times (Madison) of August 5, 2005, "... among the millions of uninsured children, many of them African Americans and Latino, one out of three goes an entire year without seeing a doctor ..." There are many reasons for the non-use of such vital services as medical and other health care. Cost, of course, is an important factor. Others include language barriers, lack of accessibility, fear and suspicion, and earlier negative experiences. The Wisconsin Health Security Act will provide accessibility to such services because of reduced financial obstacles, but much will have to be done to explain availability, entitlement, and appeal processes if grievance situations arise.
Our responsibility is to assure that people of color, both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, understand that the Wisconsin Health Security Act will provide the means for Wisconsin residents to exercise their right to full and comprehensive health care just because they are people, not people with full-coverage, expensive health insurance policies, or money.
