MHA Press Room

Study finds little change in payment for chronic disease

Barriers to reforming payment for chronic disease to foster high-quality, efficient care include a fragmented health care delivery system, the potential for lower revenues and a lack of insurance coverage for non-physician services, according to a new study by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). The authors interviewed health plans, employer groups and others to explore current and planned payment methods and incentives for chronic disease care.

“Existing payment systems, primarily fee for service, encourage a piecemeal approach to care delivery rather than a coordinated approach appropriate for patients with chronic conditions,” said HSC President Paul Ginsburg. The study found efforts to reform payment methods generally have been limited to experiments and small pilot projects, and concludes that reform will be difficult without intense political pressure.

Former Senate leaders launch health reform project

Former Senate Majority Leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell on April 16 announced a bipartisan project that will recommend U.S. health care system reforms to Congress and the administration. The Leaders’ Project on the State of American Health Care will feature a series of public forums, beginning with an April 24 event in Washington focused on improving the quality and value of health care.

Future forums will focus on affordable and accessible health coverage, health care financing mechanisms, and the individual’s role in coverage and costs. Mark McClellan, director of the Brookings Institution’s Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform and former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services under President Bush, and Chris Jennings, president of Jennings Policy Strategies Inc. and senior health care advisor to President Clinton, will provide guidance to the project, an initiative of the Bipartisan Policy Center.

AAMC: Medical home model holds promise

The Association of American Medical Colleges views the medical home model as promising and supports further research on how to best implement it, the association announced this week. In a position statement, AAMC said every patient should have access to a medical home, meaning a continuous relationship with a health care provider or team of providers to help them navigate the health care system.

The association indicated it would work with medical schools and teaching hospitals to develop a better understanding of how the medical home model can be adopted in academic and community settings. It said payment for the model should appropriately recognize and reward providers for prevention, care delivery and coordination; and that providers should be trained to understand and implement the model within a team environment.

Study estimates savings from comprehensive health reform

A combination of universal coverage and several policy options could result in $1.5 trillion in U.S. health care system savings over 10 years, according to a report released Dec. 18 by the Commonwealth Fund. Bending the Curve: Options for Achieving Savings and Improving Value in U.S. Health Spending reviewed 15 federal policy options for producing and using better information, promoting health and disease prevention, aligning incentives with quality and efficiency and correcting price signals in the health care market.

Commonwealth Fund President Karen Davis said the report shows that “there are policy solutions out there that will save money, and ensure that Americans get improved value for their health care dollars—but we need to start now.” The report cautions that in order to see real savings and higher value, policies must address overall health system costs and not shift cost from one part of the health care system to another. 

Health care tops voter concerns in early primary states

Health care is the top issue voters want presidential candidates to discuss, according to a survey in the four states with early primaries. Health care costs and coverage were the two top concerns of voters in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada, according to the survey, which was conducted for the American Hospital Association.

Nearly nine in 10 voters favored a set of changes to the health system that includes health care coverage for everyone, with costs shared by all; more affordable and efficient care; information technology to increase patient safety, lower costs and reduce paperwork; and access to preventive care and wellness programs. These changes reflect the key pillars of Health for Life: Better Health, Better Health Care, an AHA Board-approved policy framework designed to confront the challenges facing America’s health and health care.

“We hope that at every town hall meeting, campaign rally and political debate, the candidates talk about their plans for the future of health care in America,” said AHA Executive Vice President Rick Pollack. To help spur discussion, an AHA brochure called “Ask the Candidates” will be sent to AHA hospital members and posted at www.aha.org.

Most Support U.S. Guarantee of Health Care

A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

For the full story from The New York Times, click here.

Americans divided over healthcare reform

Virtually all Americans are in favor of reforming the U.S. health care system, but they're deeply divided as to how the job should be done, according to a new UPI/Zogby poll. About 45 percent favor major reforms, and another 45 minor reforms, but they disagreed strongly as to whether a market-based or government-driven solution made more sense. And they don't believe any of the current political leaders in place are likely to get the job done right, either; less than one-third said they trust President Bush on health care issues, and only slightly more (45 percent) said they thought the Democratic Congress can address the industry's issues. About 20 percent said that neither would do well.

These results suggest that neither politicians nor private health care leaders are taking consumers' financial concerns into account when they propose reforms, researchers concluded. On the other hand, consumers seem more willing to compromise than they have in the past, which leaves the door open for some kind of reform to happen, observers say.

To find out more about the survey's results, read this United Press International article.

[ via Fierce Healthcare ]

Coalition issues principles for U.S. health reform

A coalition of business, labor and policy organizations on Feb. 7 launched a campaign to reform the nation’s health care system by 2012. The group said the new system must provide “quality, affordable health insurance coverage” for all and “dramatically improve the value it receives for every health care dollar.”

In addition, it said businesses, governments and individuals should all contribute to managing and financing the new system, and that individuals have a responsibility to maintain and protect their health. The coalition pledged to recruit 50 additional partners, seek support from lawmakers, and rally customers and workers in the effort.

Its members include the Service Employees International Union, Communication Workers of America, Wal-Mart, AT&T, Intel, Kelly Services, Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy, Center for American Progress, and Committee for Economic Development.

[ via AHA News Now ]