The federal health care reform circus will soon be leaving town, and when it does attention will shift to private-sector reform led by employers, business coalitions and other community-based organizations.
The Democrats' loss of the Massachusetts Senate seat formerly held by Edward Kennedy to Republican Scott Brown substantially affected chances for a comprehensive health care package being approved by Congress. MI prediction: Congress will pass "something" representing health care reform, but it will be a largely scaled-back piece of legislation which does little to contain costs or improve quality of care.
If so, private employers and coalitions will be left to explore programs promoting health and wellness in the workforce. Among the initiatives gaining attention in Michigan: "Communities of Health" programs in Detroit and Benton Harbor. More information will be coming in future posts on Michigan Initiatives, but meantime interested parties can learn more at http://www.communitiesofhealth.org/.
It's clear that if we're going to move the needle on wellness in this country, it will take collaborative efforts such as the Communities in Health. I look forward to reading more about this concept and its potential in Michigan.
ReplyDelete