An experienced health care management firm told members of the Senate Majority Policy Committee on March 21 that the state could see an 8 to 15 percent reduction in all medical costs through the use of new technology and evidence-based medicine.
During the hearing, representatives from MedExpert touted the results of its Medicaid coordinated care initiative in Alaska. The program uses technology and health care management tools to directly assist patients in getting the care they need.
The hearing, which was held at the request of Senator Scott Martin (R-Lancaster) and hosted by Senate Majority Policy Committee Chairman David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks), focused on how a similar system could be applied to Pennsylvania’s healthcare market.
“Our return on investment in Alaska in year one was roughly 50-to-1,” Mary Hiller, MedExpert’s Executive Director of Knowledge and Engineering, testified. “The difference is technology.”
“It makes good sense for lawmakers to explore every avenue to improve patient outcomes and save tax dollars, and other states have already begun using new technology and creative approaches to accomplish both goals,” Martin said. “It is extremely encouraging to hear the amount of savings that could be generated if we follow a similar strategy in Pennsylvania.”
Argall asked Hiller what Pennsylvania taxpayers could expect to save in General Fund savings if Pennsylvania were to adopt a similar system as what is in place in Alaska.
“You would expect 8 to 15 percent drop in all medical costs,” Hiller replied.
“We are talking about significant amounts of tax dollar savings, and an opportunity to improve health care for many Pennsylvanians,” Argall said.
Senator Martin plans to introduce legislation that will direct the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to issue a Request for Proposal to pave the way for a similar program to be implemented in Pennsylvania.
