FRANKLIN, TN – The Medical Banking Project has created a new legislative platform to guide discussions with policy makers as Congress readies new healthcare legislation.
John Casillas, the project's founder, calls the platform the "Magna Carta for Medical Banking." He said he will take his message around the nation to highlight how companies are building a "medical banking grid that will empower consumers to do healthcare online."
"We're sending a clear message to D.C. that our members, comprised of banks, health data clearinghouses, financial services firms, IT firms, universities and others, can improve our healthcare system and further national policy goals," said Casillas. "We believe that banks can deploy green technologies that reduce inefficiency and ramp providers onto real time payment platforms, increase health data liquidity through consumer-friendly health-wealth portals and produce at least $35 billion in tangible savings that healthcare providers can use to care for the underserved in their communities."
The Nashville-based Medical Banking Project wants to drive the convergence of banking and healthcare systems to improve cost, quality and access to care. The project conducts research and outreach that defines and facilitates medical banking.
The Medical Banking Project's new tour – called "Banks, Hospitals and People: The Point and Click Expedition" – kicks off in August and features consumers, CEOs, hospitals, physicians, thought leaders and policy makers.
"This is a major phase for us that will end with an action plan we'll present at our 8th National Medical Banking Institute," said Casillas. The tour is sponsored by the Health Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
Casillas said a steering group led by Richard Mobley, vice president of healthcare at BancTec, has devised the action plan, the medical banking industry's "first consensus-based industry statement" on how banking and healthcare groups can team to improve healthcare.
"I believe that Health 2.0 runs straight through the banking system," said Casillas. "Simply ask the airline industry if we could do travel online without linking back-end administrative processes to our financial system. I strongly believe this holds a key to the emerging digital landscape in healthcare."
