Northwind Pharmaceuticals reposted this
Apathy and attitude or a sense of perspective? This post sat at the top of my feed this morning and I found it troubling on numerous levels. What is the price of human dignity? There is a harsh labeling in this narrative and, though the intent is a passionate call to action, I can't help but feel that a brief panel exchange as the source of truth about the competency and character of an individual is gross oversimplification. Healthcare is a complicated collection of issues. Having and reviewing claims data doesn't mean one can see the patterns, know what to do about them, or make the "right" choices. We have a massive consulting and advising infrastructure to provide expertise and we still find ourselves fixed into status quo options. Risk exists in staying put as well as changing course - all must be weighed. C-suite leadership is a big responsibility and to accept it is to accept the fact that stones will be throne, mistakes will be made and highlighted, and it will not be possible to please everyone all of the time. Maybe naming "educating our children" as the top priority isn't a bad answer from a school system CFO. Let's keep fighting the good healthcare fight but remember that it's not the only priority.
I can tell you exactly what I'm saying at this moment during a panel at the Employers' Forum of Indiana Annual Conference yesterday.... A fellow panelist who was a CFO at a school district in Indiana said that they were ill-equipped to make any use of their own claims data and that it "wasn't their role ... their role should be educating children..." As I watched the audience's reaction to these statements, I saw some heads nodding in agreement but also, several puzzled reactions. When it was finally my turn to speak, I told everyone to buckle up and get comfortable being uncomfortable. I was going to respectfully and vehemently disagree with Mr. School CFO. If you are the CFO of a school district, it is absolutely your role and duty to manage your employees' health plan like a business. This includes having access to claims data, reviewing that data, managing spend, looking at high cost claims, and doing everything a good chief financial officer should do to protect the public fisc. The apathy and attitude expressed by "Mr. School CFO" were, in fact, the perfect illustration of what is wrong with most employers' approach to their health benefits program. You may believe this should be government's problem to solve. You may believe this should be individual consumers' problem to solve. You may even believe, in your heart of hearts, that you are ill-equipped to make these very serious and financially weighty decisions that impact the lives of thousands in your district. But, if you take on the role of CFO, you better damn well step up to the plate and start acting like one. You know the price of gas and your transportation costs. You know the price of snow removal and vehicle maintenance. And you know the cost of your utilities and capital maintenance. Stop writing blank checks with tax payer money and teachers' wages.
Senior healthcare leader focused on high quality, affordable, and equitable healthcare benefits. National healthcare and leadership speaker. Proud Air Force retiree.
3moInteresting perspectives from both Chris and Phillip. I do agree that any leadership position within an organization comes with incredible responsibiity - and in fact many will disagree with whatever decision is made. Any leader in a school district should have as their first priority the education of the children, just like any leader in another industry should have that industry's mission as their first priority. But, it is time that we treat healthcare costs the way we do other commodities. Employers and their CFO, CHRO, etc., should have benefits and healthcare costs high on their priority list. But, as Phillip says, the solution is harder than it may seem on the surface. We all need to continue collaborating and pushing to engage all aspects of the healthcare system - including the purchasers of the "product" - to figure out how we change.