cover story one
Freedom Echoing
A legislative fix for health care?
BY Kip Sullivan, JD
For over 50 years, Minnesota’s method of containing health care costs has not changed. Beginning with the Health Maintenance Act of 1973, we have relied on one iteration or another of the tactics pioneered by HMOs, including exposing doctors to financial incentives to reduce services, robbing doctors of their autonomy by imposing prior authorization and other forms of micromanagement, and limiting patient choice of provider. These tactics, known collectively as managed care since 1985 and more recently as value-based payment, have not worked.
cover story two
Falls Reduction Research: Improving health and cost savings
By Craig Solid, PhD
Falls in older adults are a leading source of morbidity and health care-related costs. In addition to the significant costs associated with treating fall-related injuries, falls are closely linked to decreased health outcomes over time, including mobility and cognitive functioning decline. Many older adults limit their physical activity and social involvement out of a fear of falling, which can have psychological and emotional implications, especially for community-dwelling individuals. Physical activity and social interactions both decreased for this population during the COVID-19 pandemic, potentially exacerbating current trends in falls and fall-related injuries.
Health Care Architecture
Community Engagement in Design: Effectively serving the underserved
By Kristine Sallee, CID, Amy Williams, AIA, and Donovan Nelson, AIA
The role architecture and design plays in communities has changed significantly over time. For example, historically, architecture’s role in a medical environment was solely functional, but the psychology of architectural design as a healing component was rarely considered. Today, “healing architecture” is an approach that combines physical recovery with psychological recovery, and it’s playing an important role.
Interview
Partnering with Community
Nathaniel Scott, MD, MHA, chief of clinical operations and quality, Hennepin Healthcare
Behavioral Health
A Post Pandemic Crisis: Inadequate mental health care access
By Sue Abderholden, MPH
We have seen increases in the rates of depression and anxiety since COVID – not just in Minnesota but across the country and the world. People are struggling with their mental health. Much more than in the past, people are willing to talk about their mental health and seek help. Employers in particular are promoting mental health in the workplace and publicizing their mental health benefits. While it’s good to see the barriers to seeking care come down, the increased demand has stressed our mental health system to the point that people rarely are able to access the right services at the right times.
