Colorado Springs Medical Briefs: February 22, 2008

Trauma care providers say a report released by Gov. Bill Ritter's Office of Policy and Initiatives verifies what they have been saying for four years: the switch from a no-fault auto insurance system to a tort system has left trauma care providers with millions of dollars of unpaid costs.

The costs are shifted to health insurers and consumers through increased co-pays, deductibles and other charges.

The Governor's office hired BBC Research and Consulting, an independent research firm, to study the effects of Colorado's 2003 insurance system change. The scope of work for the study was developed through a collaborative process with the Trauma Care Preservation Coalition and auto insurance industry representatives.

The report's key findings:

Hospitals are losing tens of millions of dollars every year for treating motor vehicle accident patients. In 2002, hospitals were reimbursed for 60 percent of the care they provided to motor vehicle accident patients. But by 2006, after the switch to tort, that percentage had plummeted to only 36 percent.

Ambulance companies and fire departments have suffered similar declines in reimbursement. For Colorado's first responders, 18 percent of patient transports from motor vehicle accidents went uncompensated in 2002. By 2006, that percentage had more than doubled to 37 percent.

Health insurance premium increases have negated any auto insurance savings for consumers. Savings that consumers might have experienced in their auto insurance policies have been negated by the increases seen in health insurance premiums as a result of the switch to a tort system.

Insurance coverage for medical payments would benefit consumers. If the General Assembly were to mandate that all Coloradoans carry medical payments coverage ("med pay") on their auto insurance policies, it would help consumers cover out-of-pocket medical expenses such as co-pays and deductibles.

The report does not quantify the impacts of unreimbursed care on physicians who treat auto accident patients; nor does the report address the majority of auto accident patients who are treated in the emergency departments and discharged the same day. Researchers were only able to report data that relates to the small percent of patients admitted to hospitals.

Additionally, the report makes the case for all drivers to carry medical payments coverage on their auto policies, which would ensure that their health care would be fully covered if they were at fault in a car accident. Now, only bodily injury coverage is required, but it only covers the people who are injured by the at-fault driver.

Memorial wins cancer-care kudos

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has recognized Memorial Health System's Oncology Program for its cancer program.

Memorial has received a three-year approval with commendation following an onsite evaluation, in which the oncology program has demonstrated a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program including cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

In addition, the hospital received a compliance rating for all other standards.

Home Instead joins AARP team

Home Instead Senior Care, a local company, has joined AARP's National Employer Team -- a network of employers who value the experience and skills of the 50+ worker, according to AARP.

Home Instead serves the Colorado Springs, Monument and Woodland Park areas.

The program connects workers older than 50 with employment opportunities.

To join the AARP team, employers must undertake a detailed application process to demonstrate their interest in hiring mature workers. AARP's Web site (www.aarp.org/employerteam) provides information on the employers and the positions they have posted on their websites, along with links to each employer's AARP career page.

"Our National Employer Team members recognize the changes occurring in the labor force," said Deborah Russell, AARP's director of workforce issues. "AARP's NET members come from fields ranging from retail to travel to security with positions spanning the gap from tax examiners for the Internal Revenue Service to country directors for the Peace Corps."

Others recently named to the network of employers are the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Peace Corps, Scripps Health, Bright Horizons Family Solutions, Synergy HomeCare, AnswerNet and Vedior North America.

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