DOVER – An advocacy project months in the making was announced by the Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) today, emphasizing their collective commitment to improving healthcare and outcomes in the First State.
DHA President and CEO Brian Frazee led the ceremony on the back side of Legislative Hall, announcing a newly formed First State Health Leaders Alliance consisting of the DHA, Delaware Nurses Association, Medical Society of Delaware, Delaware Association for Home & Community Care and Delaware Health Care Facilities Association.
Together, they released an eight-point cross-sector joint advocacy agenda that included hard-hitting priorities which, according to a press release from DHA, seek to:
- Advance health workforce development to address shortages across a number of professions.
- Advocate for adequate reimbursement rates to ensure healthcare sustainability.
- Fight for prior authorization reform to ease patient access to care and reduce the burden on the health workforce.
- Invest in public health and emergency preparedness to support health workers and our most vulnerable.
- Create a culture of safety free of workplace violence for health workers.
- Remove healthcare barriers and promote health literacy to ensure care for all.
- Enhance transitions of care to improve a patient’s care coordination across all health settings.
- Champion affordable housing solutions that support aging in place, health promotion and success, health workforce recruitment and retention, and community living for those with disabilities.
“It’s an exciting time. There’s so much uncertainty around health care on the national stage. It’s comforting to know that Delaware is standing up and standing together for patients,” Frazee said during the event.
Nurse and House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown (D-New Castle) said she was “fired up” about the announcement, adding that she was happy to see everyone come together in collaboration.
“We’re shining a light on how we can collaboratively support our health care workers, provide quality and affordable health care to our patients and improve and strengthen our community,” she said. “Please know that this is not easy work. The days are hard. I know it and you all know it. But it’s through the challenges and it’s through the triumphs that we can lay a foundation right now for the best health care system in our country.”
Among the various speakers that took time to laud the efforts of the new DHA coalition, Sen. Bryan Pettyjohn (R-Georgetown) highlighted how important this work could be for his constituents in Delaware’s fastest growing county.
“In Sussex County, we have experienced growth that we didn’t think was possible and it’s not just growth in terms of numbers. It’s growth in terms of the population in Sussex County,” he told the crowd. He added that the increase in seniors also presents a unique challenge to health care providers who now see more complex cases in the area than ever before.
“For too long, we’ve been reactive and. . . I think with what we’re doing here today, we can be proactive to the needs of all of Sussex Countians,” he said. “I am very pleased with all of the health care leaders we have here from all of our health care facilities have come together to work on the solution, to be part of solving the problem for our entire state and for our region. It is extremely important that we address these concerns now. We are at the tipping point of a crisis, to be honest with you. Being behind the ball on these issues is not something that we can afford to be.”
