Asked at meeting of 45 Kaiser members, October 29, 2007
1. How secure is the CHA contract with Kaiser?
2. Would Kaiser consider continuing its relationship with West Marin
Clinic if there was a Kaiser certified physician working there, and if
not, why not?
3. Why does West Marin have the only such relationship with Kaiser in
the country, and why is it not promoted as a national model for rural
areas, especially given the shortage of primary care physicians? (We
have the only model that is working and potentially self-sustaining;
it’s a viable experiment that could be applied nationwide.)
4. Have you considered the tremendous sense of community awareness and
knowledge of health matters in West Marin, and how these assets have
contributed to the well being of its inhabitants and Kaiser for the last
twenty years?
5. Our number of Kaiser members may be small, considering Kaiser's huge
size, but doesn't Kaiser get credit for considering small is beautiful
and is also very good public relations?
6. We understand that the patient satisfaction levels for Kaiser members
in West Marin are exceptionally high (which could be considered very
unusual for an educated community with high standards and expectations.)
How does Kaiser account for this, and why isn’t this factor given more
weight?
Additional questions:
1. Kaiser used to have a P1 category--(private 1) where one could see
patients outside of Kaiser--is this still viable?
2. Can’t Kaiser explore grant possibilities to help keep these kinds of
practices open--Kaiser combined with private practice?
3. How does Kaiser define medical necessity and what is their standard
of access? (asked in reference to physical therapy patients)
4. Will Kaiser prescriptions still be able to be filled at our local
pharmacy? What is going on with the pharmacy's contract with Kaiser and
why is it not equitable?
5. Will Kaiser provide transportation for those who have to go over the
hill?
6. Is K. willing to consider alternatives to traditional treatments?