Opinion | Committee for Economic Development: A Mighty ‘Influencer’ in Health Policymaking

Washington, D.C., has become almost synonymous with “dysfunction” as political polarization, angry rhetoric, and petty disputes severely disrupt governance. A meeting I attended there earlier this summer was a refreshing reminder of what can be accomplished in an environment of reasoned thought and civil discourse. The Committee for Economic Development’s (CED’s) Biannual Trustee Policy Summit featured White House officials, economists, leading journalists, current and former members of Congress, and CED leaders who shared their unique perspectives on — and innovative solutions to — some of the most consequential problems facing the nation.

The CED is the public policy center of the Conference Board, a nonpartisan, not-for-profit, business-led policy center and “think tank” that focuses on growing a sustainable economy and providing equal opportunities for all Americans. Founded in 1942, the organization’s most impressive policy accomplishments include the Marshall Plan (economic development and peace-keeping program after World War II) and the Bretton Woods Agreement (global financial policy work that led to the creation of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund).

Today, the CED’s leaders (chief executive officers, board directors, and key executives of leading U.S. companies from every business sector) achieve substantial impact on public policy in numerous areas via multiple platforms. The organization regularly shares policies derived from its rigorous research by briefing lawmakers and raising issue awareness through extensive national outreach including “live” events, webcasts/podcasts, and publicly accessible reports and newsletters.

The meeting I attended covered topics that ranged from the state of the U.S. economy and our perilous fiscal position to policy implications for critical domestic issues. Given the ongoing fallout from our recent battle with COVID-19, healthcare featured prominently throughout the meeting. Generally speaking, the chief challenges for the healthcare sector are related to stresses in the workforce and the system itself. The following are some points that resonated with me.

Stress on the U.S. healthcare model. Our current healthcare model continues to be under enormous stress. With ongoing tension regarding how healthcare should be managed and financed, there is genuine concern that ground could be lost on the progress we’ve made over the past decades. Some innovative solutions were discussed; e.g. Virginia’s recent legislation permitting organizations such as professional associations to offer health insurance plans. I agree with those who believe improving transparency in the healthcare system is a real imperative – and that begins with high-quality data.

Long-term health workforce shortages. Healthcare professions have not sufficiently recovered from the severe losses associated with the recent pandemic. The expected nursing shortage is alarmingly large (500,000 by 2030), and “burnout” among healthcare professionals continues to be particularly pronounced in inner city and rural areas.

Tackling these workforce shortages will require innovative solutions, but the main priority must be to build a pipeline of healthcare workers that is sufficiently large, diverse, and representative of the communities they serve. From a policy perspective, consideration might be given to factors such as the quality of jobs, the wages being paid, educational priorities, and additional training slots to increase the number of workers in key healthcare professions.

Expanding telehealth services may be one key to providing broader, easier access to care without increasing costs — especially for patients in underserved areas. When telehealth services were expanded to address the precipitous rise in demand for mental health services during the pandemic, we learned how effective this approach can be. By facilitating access to care before chronic medical and mental health conditions progress, telehealth may also help reduce overall long-term health costs.

Other important healthcare challenges requiring attention included:

• Reduce Medicare and Medicaid fraud and abuse: Increased attention and resources are needed from federal and state governments. One congressional bill proposes the allocation of federal dollars to states for the purpose of conducting additional audits. Also under discussion is a reform to the federal patient drug program to prevent misuse of the specific provisions that lead to fraud and escalating costs.
• Pandemic preparedness: The CDC should apply the valuable lessons learned from COVID-19 to avian flu and other potential pandemics to control the spread of viruses before they become widespread. A policy of pandemic preparedness that includes strengthening our supply chains for medical supplies, investing in research, and making necessary reforms at the CDC must remain a priority.

As a member of the CED Health Policy Standing Committee at this highly volatile time, I think the value of a neutral, non-partisan organization like this is immeasurable. It will come as no surprise to those who know me well that networking is also a “high-value” item for me.

At an especially memorable dinner in the Capitol building, I was privileged to be seated next to Mary Jo Cagle, MD, president of North Carolina-based Cone Health. Two days later, Cone Health became the second member of Risant Health, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals’ newly created nonprofit, charitable organization that brings together “like-minded organizations to increase access to value-based care and coverage, and raise the bar for approaches that bring the best health outcomes.”

Being a part of this committee (and rubbing elbows with folks like Cagle) makes the CED Summit a critically important summertime event for me. I am already looking forward to the fall meeting!

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