News: Countrywide health forum April 22

The latest in the Washington Health Foundation’s series of statewide polls indicates that Washington residents are willing to do their part to help fix the state’s ailing health care system but remain divided on the best approach.

Respondents also increasingly see the importance of shared responsibility for improving health care access between individuals, employers and government.

Islanders can provide more input about health care at the foundation’s Community RoundTables on April 22, 3-5 p.m., in Mullis Center, Friday Harbor.

At least one Community RoundTable discussion will be held in each of the state’s 39 counties. Poll results will help identify topics to be discussed at these community sessions.

The RoundTable series will continue through July; the schedule is available on the foundation Web site, www.whf.org.

Conducted in February for the foundation by Elway Research, the poll followed up on several questions included in the foundation’s statewide poll conducted in August.

“Our polling shows the public continues to be very concerned about the health care system,” said Greg Vigdor, president and CEO of the foundation. “At the same time, it shows that they are thoughtful and realistic about reform alternatives.

“These results don’t point out a clear direction for changes in the health system but they are important because they give leaders a good starting point for involving the public in the reform process.”

James Whitfield, the foundation’s director of Transforming Health Care, added, “We're committed to building on previous findings and pushing the health care discussion forward. The polls raised questions that we will discuss in our community forums. The community forums will raise more questions to be addressed in future polls. These are real steps toward identifying a health care solution in Washington.

“By using this open, grass-roots level process, the foundation is serving as a clearinghouse for a serious health policy discussion between the general public and our leadership in this state.  We're allowing the public to enter the health policy debate without the contentious relationship usually associated with a citizen’s initiative.”  

Some of the key results from the poll include:

— Perception of the need for fundamental or major changes in the health care system remained high (50 percent in February vs. 53 percent in August).

— Positive ratings of the health system have declined slightly (51 percent positive in August vs. 42 percent positive in February).

— Majorities support significant actions to maintain government subsidized health care such as the Basic Health Plan.

— 60 percent are willing to pay higher fees or co-pays.

— 52 percent are willing to pay higher taxes.

— 60 percent support turning over some state government health services to the private sector.

— 57 percent are willing for the state to regulate health care provider fees.

Public opinion is divided on solutions for government-subsidized programs that did not include additional revenue.

— 44 percent said that enrollment should be maintained but fees and co-pays increased.

— 23 percent would reduce enrollment but not benefits and costs.

— 19 percent would reduce covered benefits.

Similarly, the public is nearly evenly divided about whether the health care system should be based more on government-based or market-based approaches (50 percent favor market-based vs. 40 percent favoring government-based). Compared with the August poll, this shows a shift toward market-based approaches. (In August, the results were 44 percent market-based vs. 44 percent government-based.)

The February results are from proprietary questions written by the Washington Health Foundation and included as part of “The Elway Poll” conducted Feb. 14-16. The survey was conducted by phone and the sample was 405 registered voters in Washington. Sampling error for the poll is plus or minus 5 percent.

The non-profit Washington Health Foundation is connecting health care providers, policy leaders and Washingtonians to a healthier tomorrow through innovative programs, grants and policy leadership.

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