Key Principles Upon Which the Spokane Region Bases Its Healthcare Access Proposals to State Policy Leaders

December, 2001

I. The No New Money Principle.  We understand that in the current fiscal environment, it is not appropriate to seek any new or extra funds, even if they might promise significant health outcomes or cost savings in the future. Thus, each Spokane region proposal intends to be at least budget neutral, while also aiming to improve health and save resources in measurable ways over time.

II. The Local “Plus” Principle. Each proposal will include a component of new local resources that the state policy partnership will help galvanize. In other words, state leaders, by supporting one or more Spokane healthcare access proposals, will tap new regional resources that will contribute to the improved health outcomes and cost savings cited above.

III. The Inevitable-Need-for-Creative-Flexibility Principle. 

Each proposal will call for some kind of new step or a new approach from state healthcare agencies and planners. Each will also call for a creative partnership which will yield potential new steps over time. In other words, no proposal will be flexibility-free for state leaders. It is important to recognize that to achieve regional breakthroughs in healthcare access, the need for flexibility is inevitable.