Viewpoint Learning and the Kansas Health Consumer Coalition Unveil Choice Dialogue Report
On Friday, June 6, non profit professionals, journalists, health advocates and elected leaders had the opportunity to listen to staff from Viewpoint Learning as they discussed the outcomes of three day long Choice Dialogues that were facilitated in conjunction with the Kansas Health Consumer Coalition who partnered with the Kansas Health Institute. Viewpoint Learning told the roomful of professionals that the outcomes of the dialogues were surprising and often emotional. They added that at least one participant had said he was “stunned” that such an opportunity had been extended. Indeed, Kansans were ready to discuss health care in Kansas.
The three day long Choice Dialogues took place in March 2008 and were conducted in Garden City, Pittsburg and Overland Park. The participants were randomly selected residents of those areas who represented the demographics of their communities. In each dialogue, participants were presented scenarios that described how health care could look in Kansas. Using the scenarios as a guide, they engaged in thoughtful discussion about what they were willing to give up, sacrifice or trade off in order to have the health care system they envisioned.
This Choice Dialogue process was long but intentional and by the end, the participants came to realize that there were no easy fixes for the health care system in Kansas. Yet, they felt strongly that change needed to occur. The sense among the participants was that the current health care system in Kansas could not just be tweaked. Instead, participants concluded it needed to be overhauled. Their opinions were based in part on the evolution that occurred in their thinking as they participated in this process with other members of their communities who came from all walks of life, socioeconomic backgrounds and political persuasions. Through these dialogues, the participants came to see health care as a right and as a result, they voiced a willingness to have their taxes increased to ensure health coverage for every Kansan. Specifically, 88% of the participants said that covering everyone in Kansas was “absolutely essential” or “very important”. By the conclusion of the dialogues, 79% preferred switching to a publicly run health insurance program funded by taxes. In addition, an overwhelming majority of the participants felt that Kansans should be able to count on their health coverage. Indeed, 85% said it was “absolutely essential” that any new health care system provide coverage that could not be taken away.
In addition, the participants voiced their desire to encourage personal responsibility among Kansans. Specifically, 68% strongly supported encouraging healthy behaviors such as quitting smoking, exercising, and getting preventative screenings (with 97% in support of putting more resources into preventative care). In tandem, a majority (59%) of the participants felt that individual Kansans should shoulder some cost of their own care through co-pays or by other means.
In all three locations, Kansans appreciated the experience to engage in discussion with others about health reform. The Kansas Health Consumer Coalition is hopeful that the outcomes of these dialogues will inspire, create continued opportunities for discussion and fuel enthusiasm among Kansans to seek change.
Click here to download the final report.
Click here to view pictures.
