Changes in federal insurance law, local effects discussed

The Round Rock Chamber of Commerce hosted a health care forum Oct. 12 for area businesses, employers and other local stakeholders.

"Navigating the Future of Healthcare" featured presentations on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, information about the changes in health care laws and the overall impact the industry has on the city.

Chamber President and CEO Doug Kurkul said while health care is being debated on the national front, the rise of the health care industry in Round Rock makes it a key local issue.

With millions of Americans working in health care, the industry taking up a significant portion of the economy and employers spending millions of dollars to comply with health care laws, Kurkul said the issue deserved full attention from local business leaders.

"Health care is transforming the national economy," Kurkul said. "Round Rock is home to innovative health care businesses."

Jason Kloc, senior vice president and benefits specialist with the Gallagher Group, provided a breakdown of changes and expected costs to employers and small- business owners.

Kloc said employers should consult counsel to ensure they are in compliance, determine a health care plan strategy as part of their total compensation and perform extensive analysis on different health care approaches. Kloc also said employers should learn and be prepared for the advent of health insurance exchanges, online marketplaces where individuals and small business can compare prices and buy insurance through the aid of government subsidies, if eligible.

"The primary focus [of PPACA] is to decrease the number of uninsured [people]," Kloc said.

Ed Sherwood, vice dean of the Round Rock campus of Texas A&M Health Science Center, led a session on "The Graduate Medical Education of Tomorrow." Sherwood said the model of physician education needs to change in order to adapt to technological advances and patient-driven health care systems.

"We're still forcing doctors to memorize things they could look up," Sherwood said. "We're not doing as well teaching system relationships."

Sherwood said Texas was losing locally educated and trained doctors to out-of-state residency programs, a trend drastically impacting physician shortages. Citing a 2008 study from Kaiser Family Foundation, Sherwood said Texas ranks 42nd in the nation in physicians per capita.