The Unicorn Party and Jasmine Sherman, presidential candidate, have come together to create a policy that aligns with our principles that we hold so dear. A healthcare system that does the most! It can to improve the health of all Americans, which will protect people from financial ruin, and conforms to our values as a society.
Cost
These prices have/will continue to increase annually, unless we change the healthcare industry:
Eliminating unnecessary expenses (admin, referrals, copays, and advertising of insurance providers)
Eliminating superfluous government programs, entities, and redundant staff.
Health Equity
Currently minorities receive poorer quality and less intensive care which leads to 265 premature deaths every day.
Discrepancies in care received based on socio-economic status and race.
43% of healthcare orgs have no plan for health equity and often fail to collect adequate data (7/28/22)
CHOP’s receives $1M grant from Bank of America (7/21/22)
University of Louisville (7/26)
- Initiatives
Equity development follow up survey after treatment services by an external party (such as a social worker)
Diversify leadership staffing
Implement effective strategies from successful initiatives based on data collected – partnerships to share data
Eliminate language barriers between staff and patients (through linguistic apps/devices)
Access
80% of the country lacks access to adequate healthcare.
“Healthcare deserts are more likely to affect those who face additional barriers to access, such as lower income, limited internet access, and lack of insurance. Together, these barriers can further widen disparities in health outcomes.”
We will be switching it to where hospitals are public property and doctors are public employees Everyone will have a universal public insurance system like expanding Medicare to everyone. It is time now for the government to get involved and help people achieve the most efficient and effective healthcare. We will ensure that there are medical treatment facilities within reasonable distance for every community Facility (mods/new construction) will be equipped for variety of procedures Our plan to combat the shortage of medical professionals is by boosting recruitment efforts via dual enrollment to all high school juniors & seniors, free education, loosening licensing requirements, and expanding training programs.
How well does healthcare work with our values? When a woman has a tummy tuck after having a baby that is gender reaffirming surgery. When a man takes viagra that is gender reaffirming care. Everyone should have access to care that makes them comfortable.
Quality
The current healthcare system does not meet the bar for American excellence because it is not equal everywhere
Insurance coverage often excludes dental, vision, hearing and mental healthcare
- Compare the US to other countries
The same quality of care that your president and elected officials get you will get
Dental, vision, hearing, and mental healthcare will be included
America's Health
People are dying…would you want to be in a hospital in a low income area? Or in a county with no hospitals
Poor health is costly & (in some instances) responsible for lost wages from missed work
We will be taking a proactive approach instead of a reactive approach to peoples healthcare which will hopefully reduce the cost of care and the need for aggressive treatments due to preventative care.
Problems and Solutions
All Americans have experienced a 30% increase in healthcare wait times
Not enough therapists/psychiatrists/social workers
Prescriptions not being covered
Procedures being denied by insurance companies
Shortage of nurses
Not every doctor takes every insurance
Price of insurance, copays, and deductibles
Drs treating the symptoms instead of the cause, not wanting to do the tests for various reasons (the one size fits most solution instead of personalized care)
The fear of Drs
Lack of access
Drs denying pain relief because of a personal belief that the patient is drug seeking
Drs who don’t listen to their patients
No options for choosing your healthcare professionals
Dental *emergencies* are not treated in ERs and require a lengthy appointment/wait time to be properly treated.
Adding more healthcare staff and beds
No medical decisions will be made by an irrelevant third party – only between patient & provider
Prioritize health & psychology education, establish initiatives to encourage applicants & address issues that result in dismissal
Allow students the ability to practice, before graduation, to eliminate the transition period between student and experienced provider
Simultaneously improve patient & provider experience
Human connection-focused culture/care
All prescriptions will be covered
Procedures will no longer be about the cost but will be about what the Dr and patient believe is best.
No doctor will be ‘out of network’
Eliminate insurance, copays, and deductibles
Dental/other specialists will be available in/nearby ER/hospital
Life Expectancy
The average life expectancy in the US is 76 for males & 81 for females (79 overall)
Correlation between household median income and life expectancy
States with lower minimum wage have lower life expectancy
Zip codes have also revealed a stark discrepancy in life expectancy
Life expectancy in many places in this country (US) is declining. It’s going backward instead of forward. Countries such as Australia are far ahead of the U.S. in delivering preventive care and trying to curb harmful behaviors. Smoking, physical inactivity, obesity, and high blood pressure are all preventable risk factors
8 of 10 of the shortest lifespan states are also within the bottom 10 of average household income – 6 of the 10 longest-living states, scored within the top 10 average household income
Increased access and improved care will improve life expectancy
Over 20,000 infants died in the US in 2020. The five leading causes:
birth defects
preterm birth and low birth weight
SIDS
injuries (suffocation)
pregnancy complications
In 2019, infant mortality rates by race and ethnicity were as follows:
Non-Hispanic Black: 10.6
Non-Hispanic Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander: 8.2
Non-Hispanic American Indian/Alaska Native: 7.9
Hispanic: 5.0
Non-Hispanic white: 4.5
Non-Hispanic Asian: 3.4
Correlation between household income & IMR
Pregnancy related deaths occur 20.1 per 100,000 live births with the comparable country average 5.3 deaths, Canada follows at 7.5 deaths
IMR have been on a steady decline since 1995, never decreasing more than 1,000 annually.
Improvements to healthcare will increase the reduction rate
With our focus on equity and increase in standards will reduce the Black infant mortality/pregnancy rates
Rate of Diseases
Delayed, disproportionate response
Inconsistent responses from state/local governments – leaving gaps in community protection
Inconsistent/inaccurate spread of information
Insufficient stockpile of PPE
Exceptions to vaccine mandates allowing people to opt out – personal/religious beliefs
US vaccination rates drop
Chronic Illness issues:
worsening costs
cost effectiveness
impacts mental health
treatment alternatives
Substance abuse cost/benefit
Ethical Issues
Ethical Approaches to Health Policy
Allocation of Meds & shortage of donor organs
IMR have been on a steady decline since 1995, never decreasing more than 1,000 annually.
Establish/maintain consistent access (for all) to medical care – #1 priority!
Address physician, nurse, etc. shortages – expand residency slots/grow clinical workforce, eliminate medical school education costs, & remove barriers to physician immigration for foreign-trained physicians to practice in the US
Telehealth & remote patient monitoring – affordable & reliable
Reduce government & insurance industry regulatory burdens that detract from patient care & increase costs [ex: prior authorization]
Unified front nationwide in disease prevention and management determined by evidence based understandings
Dept. of Health – more authority to determine course of action rather than just “suggesting”
Increase funding for all diseases that affect people
Maintain consistent funding for public health preparedness planning
No cost is more important than a life
Cost transparency
Science-based, identity affirming healthcare guaranteed
Legislation will not interfere with healthcare providers ability to do their job nor a patient’s ability to receive the care they need
Benefits of treating chronic illness holistically
Establish/maintain ‘end of life’ care
Eliminating perverse production/ distribution incentives of meds
How Medicare will work under Sherman's plan:
Inpatient care
Skilled nursing care
Hospice care
Respite care
Home health care
Pain Management will not be limited to the formulary created by insurance companies, instead will be determined by the medical professional and the patient.
See Sherman’s disability policy for more.
- Lab Work And X-rays
Preventative Care
Doctor Visits
Surgery
Ambulances
Transportation to and from Appointments and Pharmacy Visits
Kidney Dialysis
Cancer Treatment
Pain Management will not be limited to the formulary created by insurance companies, instead will be determined by the medical professional and the patient.
See Sherman’s disability policy for more.
Vision
Hearing
Dental
No more reimbursement, this will be actual coverage. Dental, vision, hearing, and other specialties will be available in one facility.
See Sherman’s disability policy for more.
Outpatient prescription plan
All medications, prescribed and over-the-counter, will have a dye and flavoring free option
Holistic Medicine included
Doulas and Midwives included
Pain Management will not be limited to the formulary created by insurance companies, instead will be determined by the medical professional and the patient.
See Sherman’s disability policy for more.