An Early Look At How Iowan Voters Feel About Health Care

Jane Sarasohn-Kahn at Health Populi looks at some early statistics of how Iowans feel about the state of our health care system. The survey was sponsored by CodeBlueNow, a consumer-led health advocacy group.

I found it particularly interesting that Iowans believe "health care services should stress disease prevention over high-technology cures." I wonder if a poll in West Virginia would show a similar statistic.

Contrast this statistic with some data coming out of the Leadership West Virginia Conference saying that West Virginia's health care system is dysfunctional and in peril. Dave Campbell, CEO of Community Health Network said that "$10 billion a year is spent on health care in [West Virginia], but only 3 percent of that is spent on preventative measures." Chronic disease is a huge problem in West Virginia.

Citing respiratory disease and diabetes as two treatable problems that are causing health care rates to rise in West Virginia, Campbell goes on to say that of the "$4 billion a year spent in hospitals, we know that $1 out of every $10 is avoidable. Over $400 million would be avoidable if people had earlier access to prevention and primary care."

Guy V., this post is for you after our weekend discussion.

New WV Blog: Lincoln Walks At Midnight

A new West Virginia blog, courtesy of Oncee, who has the uncanny ability to sniff out and spot Mslogs (Mountain State Blogs).

Lawrence Messina, who covers the Statehouse beat for the AP, is now blogging at Lincoln Walks At Midnight: A Just-The-Facts Approach to Politics and Government in the Moutain State of West Virginia. Great URL: MyWVHome.

On behalf of the Wild and Wonderful bloggers of the Mountain State -- Welcome!

Tags: WV, West Virginia, Blog, Politics, Government