Life as we know it has forever changed as our nation continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, systemic racism and injustice, political division, economic hardship and human suffering. While the wounds run deep and the list is long, we are seeing signs of hope that over time we will emerge from this better, stronger and more unified than ever before.
West Health is doing what it can to be part of a better tomorrow while we remain steadfast in our mission to lower healthcare costs and enable seniors to successfully age in place with access to high-quality and affordable health and support services that preserve their dignity, quality of life and independence.
Our activities and initiatives over the last several months include:
- Provided emergency relief funds to nonprofit organizations providing food and support services to seniors during the pandemic.
- Enhanced telehealth resources and capabilities to enable healthcare professionals to deliver care to seniors in the safety of their own homes.
- Called for legislation to make the temporary expansion of telehealth during the pandemic permanent. See my op-ed, “Congress should act swiftly to make telehealth expansion permanent,” in Morning Consult.
- Released findings from the latest West Health/Gallup poll that found growing fears among Americans over healthcare costs during and after the pandemic. These findings were featured in hundreds of news outlets across the nation.
- Partnered with the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy to develop strategic roadmaps that help advance value-based payment reform.
- Continued collaboration with the state of California on the state’s first Master Plan for Aging and spoke out against potential budget cuts to senior programs in the face of COVID-19.
Our work is powered by our values — equality, fairness, diversity, respect, shared sacrifice, equal opportunity and social justice — and our deep commitment to seniors who today face greater challenges than ever before. But together, I’m confident that we can not only improve aging in America, but we can make the world a better place for everyone.
