As part of efforts to revitalize and advance the territory’s healthcare system, Lt. Governor Francis recently convened the second meeting of the Health Reform Implementation Task Force.  The meeting was held on July 21, 1010 at Government House on St. Thomas.  Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis, in his capacity as Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, serves as Chairman.

The meeting was attended by members of the Task Force, including Health Commissioner Julia Sheen-Aaron; Human Services Commissioner Christopher Finch; Office of Management and Budget Director Debra Gottlieb; Schneider Regional Medical Center CEO Alice Taylor; Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital Interim CEO Darice Plaskett; Frederiksted Health Care, Inc. CEO Masserae Sprauve Webster and St. Thomas East End Medical Center Corp. Executive Director Wilbur Smith.  Representatives of the  Health Insurance Board of Trustees, Virgin Islands Equicare and from the Offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor were also present.  The Legislature’s Chairman for the Committee on Health, Hospitals, and Human Services Senator Patrick Sprauve, also attended.

The meeting was an opportunity to review and discuss next steps in the historic reform process, including efforts to revamp the territory’s Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (“CHIP”) programs. During the meeting, Peter Hiebert, Esq., Counsel to the Government from Winston & Strawn, and Marcia Morgan, a Medicaid expert from Alicia Smith & Associates, also provided an update on the forthcoming guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as it relates to the treatment of the territories and offered insights regarding the potential impact of the various reform measures.

At the meeting, participants discussed the fiscal impact of healthcare reform to the territory and continued the process of providing timeline-driven recommendations regarding the implementation of healthcare reform initiatives to the Governor.  Primary objectives of federal healthcare reform include: expanding health insurance coverage to the uninsured; ending discriminatory practices against the uninsured; decreasing health insurance premiums; expediting the claims process; reducing uncompensated care costs; and preventing waste, fraud and abuse.  
 
"This task force represents our understanding that the business of healthcare reform cannot happen in a vacuum. It will take discussion and coordination as we explore every opportunity to realize our goal of making healthcare accessible to all residents, and not just a select few," Lieutenant Governor Gregory R. Francis, Chairman of the Health Reform Implementation Task Force said.

The next meeting of the Virgin Islands Health Reform Implementation Task Force will be held on August 25, 2010 on St. Croix.

All Photos Courtesy of Government House