Iowans have access to one of the finest health care delivery systems in the country. However, assuring employer-sponsored availability of quality health care is a challenge for Iowa businesses as increasing costs and global competition pose a threat to competitiveness.

While the Council recognizes the need to control employee health benefits costs, it also seeks to maintain the stability and effectiveness of the health care industry’s infrastructure.

EMPLOYEE WELLNESS

Innovative and sustainable employee wellness programs that encourage broad-based participation are a critical factor in controlling escalating health care costs. Council members have agreed to share their companies’ best practices for wellness and health literacy programs.

HEALTH CARE COSTS

No single constituency should disproportionately bear the expense of providing health care. Many factors affect costs that threaten the current infrastructure of the Iowa health care delivery system:

• an aging population
• harmful personal habit and lifestyle choices
• inadequate and shrinking payments to providers from government programs
• a growing number of uninsured
• greater prevalence of chronic diseases
• escalating prescription drug costs
• timely deployment of technological advances
• inadequate health literacy
• expensive new drug therapies
• greater medical malpractice liability
• acute shortages of health care professionals

The Council supports working collaboratively in the areas of Medicare equity, relief from rising malpractice costs, consumer education, continuous process improvement, and quality medical outcomes to reduce the costs of health care to Iowa residents.