Health planning must be a priority

Few people outside health care policy circles know what “coordinated health planning” is. But for many of those who do, Gov. Donald L. Carcieri’s veto last month of legislation to create an advisory council to provide expert advice on how Rhode Island’s health care system should be structured was a devastating blow.
The legislation, based on the work of a diverse group of people, had been unanimously approved by the General Assembly. But, as Terrie “Fox” Wetle, associate dean of medicine for public health at Brown University and a leader in that effort, noted, the only vote that ultimately counted was the governor’s, with his veto.
The story is not over yet; as of last Wednesday, legislative leaders had not decided whether to return after their recess to consider the 50 bills the governor vetoed.
The governor said he plans to issue an executive order that will accomplish the same goals as the legislation. Some of the measure’s supporters are holding their fire until they see the order. Their priority, they say, is that a structure be set up for serious, systematic discussions of Rhode Island’s health care priorities and how they will be translated into action.
Others aren’t sure that’s enough. Wetle served on a similar group under Gov. Lincoln Almond that faded out of existence. She and others worry that without a legislative mandate, health planning will remain haphazard.
This is not a theoretical matter; we have a seriously troubled health care system. And the proposal to merge Lifespan and Care New England has created an even more urgent need for strong health policy advice for our state’s leaders.
Forget politics; Rhode Island needs coordinated health planning now.