To the City Managers, today I want to speak directly to you, recognizing that you are often caught between the need to provide essential services to your residents and the pressures of managing budgets and community relations. I want you to know, that I see you, and that I understand your challenges. And I’m here today to present MD Health Pathways, and the Tap Telehealth service, as a solution to improving access to healthcare while also being fiscally responsible and politically sound.
Understanding the Challenges of Municipal Leadership
We know you’re constantly balancing competing priorities, and that any new program, any change to a utility bill, or any addition to what your residents have to pay attention to, will be met with questions and concern. I also understand the trepidation of adding any fee to the water utility bill, especially since you are often reminded of the past when you had to raise water rates and the inevitable push back you received from the community. We want to address those concerns upfront, with transparency and understanding. We recognize that you face difficult decisions every single day, and we want to make your job a little easier!
The Tap Telehealth Model: Streamlining Access and Empowerment
Our approach is to provide a Tap Telehealth service with a small, opt-out fee – typically around $9 – on your residents’ water bills. We chose this method because the water bill is usually the one constant that reaches every single resident in your community. We also know that a low monthly subscription is the best way to provide healthcare that is both affordable and accessible. However, we also designed this system with the goal of putting the power back into the hands of the community and not in the hands of the municipality. We want to give your residents choices!
Addressing the “Opt-Out” Concern Head-On
Here’s the critical point that I want to make clear to you all – this is not an increase in your water rates. Unlike a rate increase, this is a completely optional service. Your residents have the ability to opt out of Tap Telehealth at any time, if they don’t see the value or want to utilize it. We believe that giving them the option is the most respectful and empowering approach. This opt-out function allows the power of choice to be in the hands of the citizens of the city and not in the hands of the city leaders. We put the power back into the hands of the community!
The Danger of Paternalism: Empowering Resident Choice
You see, when city leadership decides not to offer Tap Telehealth as an opt-out option, you’re effectively making the decision for everyone. That creates a paternalistic system where the city is telling the residents what they can and can’t do, and we believe that residents should have that choice for themselves, and that they are capable of making that decision for their own households. We believe in empowering your residents, not controlling them.
Beyond the Fee: The Broader Community Benefits
Here are some of the community benefits that Tap Telehealth provides, while not adding a burden to your budget:
- Reduced Strain on Emergency Services: When residents have other options, they utilize the ER less. With that we can reduce the burden on ambulances, and all of the emergency services you provide.
- Improved School Attendance: We have found that when students have access to care, they miss less school, and that will increase the funding for local school systems.
- A Healthier Workforce: When people are healthy, they are more productive, which helps to improve the local economy.
- An Asset for Hiring: As we have discussed, by offering this resource to the community, you are also helping to attract and retain businesses and families to your area.
- Easy to Implement: We make it easy for you to implement a program like this, because we know that you are often stretched thin! And we take on much of the labor, and the heavy lifting to make sure that it is not taxing on your already limited resources.
Focusing on Shared Goals: A Partnership for Success
At MD Health Pathways, we believe that a thriving city is one where all residents have access to quality, affordable healthcare, where everyone is empowered to take care of themselves, and where the city is fiscally responsible. We are here to partner with you, to help make your city the very best that it can be!
We understand that you are tasked with difficult decisions every day, and we are here to provide you with options that are beneficial for you and the community. Our Tap Telehealth system is designed to meet the needs of your community, while also making it easy to implement and cost effective.
Ready to empower your residents and streamline healthcare access? Contact us today and let’s explore how MD Health Pathways can help your city achieve its goals!
