Washington Healthcare Commission Selects Sellers Feinberg

National Healthcare Consulting Firm to Assist State's Blue Ribbon Commission

PHILADELPHIA (October 12, 2006) ~ Sellers Feinberg & Associates, a leading U.S. healthcare consulting and government relations firm headquartered in Philadelphia, signed an agreement last month to provide services to the Washington Blue Ribbon Commission on Healthcare Costs and Access as it gathers industry information, reviews presentations and evaluates proposals submitted by interested individuals and organizations addressing healthcare reform.

Governor Chris Gregoire, with State Senator Pat Thibaudeau, co-chairs the Blue Ribbon Commission, which is exploring ways to deliver accessible, affordable, quality healthcare for all Washingtonians. Today, the state's healthcare system does not adequately meet these quality-of-life concerns. The Commission (which held its first meeting this summer) must recommend by December 1, 2006, a sustainable five-year plan to substantially improve access to affordable healthcare for all Washington residents.

Currently, Washington provides healthcare to about 1.3 million children and adults. The state's projected cost for health and health-related programs will be $4.5 billion in 2006, which is nearly 28 percent of all state expenditures. The most simple reason to reform the state system is to enable it to provide high-quality care at lower costs. Such reform also may positively impact the manner in which private sector healthcare systems operate in the Washington marketplace.

As Sellers Feinberg assists the Blue Ribbon Commission in the development of recommendations for its five-year plan, including proposals for the 2007 legislative session, the firm will provide a broad range of consulting services, as needed, to facilitate, guide and support the Commission. Sellers Feinberg activities include, but are not limited to:
Identification, evaluation and recommendation of options for Washington to realize the Blue Ribbon Commission goals; and working with the Blue Ribbon Commission, executive agency staff and legislative staff to make optimal use of Commission meetings and findings.

By 2012, the Commission envisions a system that will provide every Washingtonian the ability to receive necessary healthcare at an affordable price. The Commission hopes to have all children covered by 2010. To realize this vision, both public and private sectors in Washington will need to significantly improve access to affordable health coverage while advancing the overall well-being of citizens through preventative medicine and wellness programs. Governor Gregoire and the Commission hope to fashion state government's approach as an effective national model for how all Americans can find, obtain and use healthcare.

Sellers Feinberg is a market-leading U.S. healthcare consulting firm specializing in creating transformational change in public healthcare programs. Sellers Feinberg professionals strategize the design and implementation of original and inventive solutions for the healthcare industry, government, private sector and advocacy clients. The firm provides innovation in five key areas: Medicaid reform, revenue maximization, healthcare purchasing/cost containment, strategic consulting and government relations.

In addition to its headquarters in Philadelphia, Sellers Feinberg has offices in Harrisburg, Pa.; Austin, Texas; Madison, Wis.; Washington, D.C. and is located online at www.sellers-feinberg.com.

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