Freeman President to Serve on Statewide Medicaid Task Force

Joplin, Mo. – Freeman Health System President and Chief Executive Officer Paula F. Baker has been appointed by Speaker of the Missouri House of Representatives Todd Richardson to serve on the newly formed Task Force for Examining Statewide Medicaid Delivery Models.

The 13-member group, comprised of several state representatives and healthcare executives, was assembled pursuant to House Bill 11, a budget bill passed last year that included provisions to create a task force to study the fiscal implications of expanding Medicaid managed care statewide. 

As the only hospital president and Joplin representative on the task force, Baker hopes her presence on the board will help bring transformation to the current Medicaid delivery system in Missouri to better serve the needs of our citizens.  “I am honored to be appointed to this task force by Speaker Richardson,” said Baker. “We’ll be discussing a very important topic: the future of the Medicaid delivery system in Missouri.  There is much to discuss and evaluate, including opportunities in the area of population health that build on provider driven models such as health homes and accountable care organizations. I believe we need to leverage existing community resources like our hospitals, pharmacies and clinics to improve health outcomes for our entire community. It is important to keep as much of our healthcare dollars in our communities as possible.”

State policymakers increasingly recognize that improving health outcomes is as much about addressing the social determinants of poor health as it is about providing high-quality medical care. A number of states are testing payment models that reward good outcomes over greater volume and allow providers to invest in nonmedical interventions that improve health. Medicaid accountable care organizations (ACOs), or other ACO-like models, offer a prime opportunity to meld population health and payment and delivery system reforms.¹

Baker also serves on the Regional Policy Board for the American Hospital Association.

Task Force Committee members include:

• Chair - Rep. Marsha Haefner
• Rep. Sue Allen
• Rep. Justin Alferman
• Rep. Deb Lavender
• Rep. Jim Neely
• Ms. Paula Baker, Freeman Health System
• Mr. Brent McGinty, Executive Director Missouri Community Mental Health Centers Association
• Mr. Erik Rassmussen, Program Manager - BJC Accountable Care Organization
• Ms. Janet Grant, Regional Director for Aetna
• Ms. Melissa Robinson, Executive Director of Black Health Care Coalition
• Ms. Leslie Anderson, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy - SIL Services for Independent Living
• Dr. Rolfe McCoy, Missouri Dental Association
• Mr. Chuck Hollister, Missouri Psychological Association

Freeman Health System – Celebrating 90 Years
Locally owned, not-for-profit and nationally recognized, Freeman Health System includes Freeman Hospital West, Freeman Hospital East, Freeman Neosho Hospital and Ozark Center – the area’s largest provider of behavioral health services – as well as two urgent care clinics, dozens of physician clinics and a variety of specialty services. In 2014, Freeman earned 90 individual awards for medical excellence and safety from CareChex®, a quality rating system that helps consumers evaluate healthcare providers. U.S. News & World Report ranked Freeman #1 Hospital in Southwest Missouri in 2014-15, and The Leapfrog Group gave Freeman the highest grade possible in the Fall 2014 Hospital Safety Score. With more than 300 physicians on staff representing more than 60 specialties, Freeman provides cancer care, heart and vascular care, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopaedics, children’s services and women’s services. Additionally, Freeman is the only Children’s Miracle Network Hospital in a 70-mile radius. For more information, visit freemanhealth.com or facebook.com/freemanhealthsystem or follow Freeman President and Chief Executive Officer Paula Baker at twitter.com/freemanceo. #FreemanTurns90

¹ Source:  Center for Health Care Strategies, Inc.