Coalition outlines ‘consensus’ healthcare reforms

{mosads}“No single organization working alone, and no single policy approach, will achieve the lower-cost, higher-quality imperative. Moderating health costs while improving quality of care must be an all-hands-on-deck commitment,” said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA.

The coalition, which dubbed itself the Partnership for Sustainable Health Care, released five “consensus recommendations.” 

Both Medicare and private insurance plans should move toward a payment system based on patients’ health rather than on the number of services provided, the groups said. 

Payment should be aligned with how well a given procedure works, they said, and patients should be pushed toward high-value providers. For example, patients could receive a discount on their copayments when they choose providers and services with a record of effectiveness.

“High-value, affordable health care for individuals and families requires a sustained commitment by all stakeholders to actively engage and address the drivers of health costs throughout the system,” said Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America’s Health Insurance Plans. “Today’s report presents an actionable roadmap for reform.”