South Sound Military & Communities Partnership Health Care Working Group followup

The South Sound Military & Communities Partnership Health Care Working Group has planned a second meeting in December, to move forward in progressing on the key topics discussed at the October meeting.

The following topic questions will be discussed and acted upon:

1. Communication: How can we communicate/coordinate better in order to provide seamless care between settings for active duty troops, their dependents and Veterans?

• Networking/recognizing that with staff turn-over, people who know people will change
• Understanding other organizational resources; providers, facilities, centralized resources and information is needed. 2-1-1 is a good start, need specific individuals, numbers, etc to contact
• Best practices in information sharing

2. Appointments: How do we encourage more civilian health care providers to schedule appointments for troops, their dependents and veterans?

• Incentives, bonuses for taking group of patients
• Identify and address challenges
• Competitive rates must be provided for increased participation
• Streamline services with community care coordination
• Simplify paperwork
• Liaison available for face to face interaction on problem resolution

3. Learn and Support: How can civilian and military providers keep learning from and supporting each other?

• Address Issues ie providers don’t know how some health coverage plans work
• Social culture, military issues;  Are civilian and military systems in competition?
• Know and share performance metrics
• Staff education is needed
• Young Service Members navigating health care for the first time. Dealing with understanding co pays, etc.
• Identify which organizations can assist with classes to educate stakeholders
• Work with leadership of provider groups
• Distilling information proficiently
• Consortiums available and potential for increased opportunities

4.       Reimbursement: What action regarding reimbursement and payment systems is needed?

• Transparency wanted with more education on how to access rates timeline
• What are the coverage benefits levels? How can people get coverage benefit levels?
• Address Reservist population
• Dental care reimbursement
• Address special populations challenges with information to stakeholders
• Increase webinars, teleconference providers and increase administrative wide spread education
• Physician outreach needed
• Join forces to delegation
• Local providers are front line
• Civilian providers perceiving information and receiving actual information
• Legislative action

I'll report back to you here on how the meeting goes.