Jul 10, 2008 9:07 pm US/Pacific
SF Expands Universal Health Care Program
SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) ―
Backed by doctors and administrators for Saint Francis Memorial Hospital, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom spoke Thursday on the current success and future expansion of Healthy San Francisco, the city's year-old universal health care program.
Since the program was unanimously approved by the Board of Supervisors last July, nearly 26,000 city residents have enrolled at an average rate of 600 per week, and the number of hospitals participating has increased from one to five, Newsom said.
"We decided that we can do more and we can do better," he said.
The latest version of Healthy San Francisco will allow those enrolled to choose from among 28 current "medical homes" and receive care while paying a fee between $0 and $250.
San Francisco General Hospital was the first hospital to offer services for Healthy San Francisco and will continue to do so.
Beginning in September, California Pacific Medical Center will offer inpatient services to participants with North East Medical Services as a medical home. Saint Francis Memorial Hospital will also offer inpatient services to those with Glide Health Services as their medical home. Those who enroll with Sister Mary Philippa Clinic as their medical home will be able to use Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center for inpatient services.
The University of California at San Francisco Medical Center will provide referral-based diagnostic imaging services at its China Basin facility.
The Chinese Community Health Care Association and Chinese Hospital have also been added to the provider network.
"We're committed to his community and ask for other hospitals and partners to step up to the plate to offer compassionate care," said Lloyd Dean, President and CEO of Catholic Healthcare West, which includes Saint Francis and Saint Mary's.
A similar program exists in Vermont, according to Director of the Department of Public Health Mitch Katz. But San Francisco's model has improved on the idea, he said.
In Vermont, residents cannot get coverage for pre-existing conditions, Katz said. But Healthy San Francisco will cover such conditions.
Immigration status is also not a factor, he added.
The program in Vermont began around the same time as Healthy San Francisco but to date has only enrolled about 2,000 residents, according to Katz.
Katz and Newsom were quick to clarify that Healthy San Francisco is not a form of insurance.
"If someone can get insurance, they should get insurance," Katz insisted, explaining that the program standards do not meet those of private insurance companies.
Newsom also said that the program does in no way threaten the insurance companies.
"We're complimenting them," he said, smiling.
Healthy San Francisco currently does not cover all residents. Katz said the program aimed to start with those at the very lowest level of poverty.
When it first began, only residents whose incomes were 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or less were eligible for Healthy San Francisco. Since then, that has increased to include those whose incomes are 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Level or below.
According to Newsom, the goal is to have families whose incomes are 500 percent of the poverty level or below covered by January 2009.
For more information on the program, go to
http://www.HealthySanFrancisco.org or call 311.
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