In honor of Women’s History Month, Healthcare Finance News has asked some of the women leaders in the nation’s healthcare industry to talk about the role of women in healthcare. Contact HFN associate editor, Stephanie Bouchard, on Twitter @SBouchardHFN if you have suggestions for women that should be included in our series.
Today, we hear from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.). McMorris Rodgers is viewed by many in political circles as an up-and-coming political force. She serves as vice chair of – and is the only woman to be part of – the House Republican Conference. She is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, a strong voice opposing the Affordable Care Act and serves on several health-related congressional caucuses. Some have suggested that she may be considered as a vice presidential candidate.
Q: What role do women have as decision-makers/leaders in today’s healthcare sector?
A. All across America, women are the predominant healthcare decision makers. In fact, studies show that 85 percent of all healthcare decisions are made by women. Women also represent the vast majority of healthcare professionals. Women in both groups, those making decisions for their entire family and the professionals, want to be able to make their own decisions. That’s why women are so strongly opposed to the 2010 healthcare law. They see the government coming in and taking over many healthcare decisions that should be made by women. That’s why repealing the healthcare law and replacing it with something better – something that will empower patients, instead of undermining them – is top priority for women.
Q. What do women bring to the table to shape the future of healthcare?
A. Women have been an important part of the workforce and economy for some time now. There are many women leaders in nursing, medicine and healthcare administration. These women are already shaping the delivery of healthcare. Women, as the chief healthcare decision-makers for their families, are also shaping the future of healthcare. Women are informed consumers. They know which doctors they want to see and they do their homework before coming to the doctor. They know what options are available to them and they expect to be given a role in the decision-making process. They do not want the government making their healthcare decisions.
Q. What do you personally believe should be the path forward to better care and lower costs?
A. I believe we need common-sense, market-based solutions to improve healthcare and lower costs. The main reason for the rising cost of healthcare is a lack of competition and consumer choice. The explosion in healthcare costs in recent decades correlates with the explosion in the share of all healthcare expands that are paid for by the government. A patient-centered approach, such as the one we find in the Ryan plan that reforms Medicare, is what’s needed for our entire healthcare system.