New Report: House and Senate Reform Bills Would Address Array of Health System Challenges
<p>Achieving a high performance health system means going beyond ensuring affordable insurance coverage. It also requires measures to improve the quality of health care, increase efficiency, and slow the growth in total health system costs.</p>
<p>A <a href="/publications/fund-reports/2009/dec/starting-path-high-performance-health-system-analysis-health">new report</a> from The Commonwealth Fund analyzes the health reform bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and the reform provisions under consideration in the Senate that would affect health care providers' financial incentives, the organization and delivery of health services, investment in prevention and population health, and the capacity to achieve the best health care and health outcomes for all. </p>
<p>Prepared by experts at the Fund, the report finds that the bills in Congress "have the potential to produce substantial total health system savings for the nation—well beyond what is reflected in the estimated federal budget impact." Specific provisions would stimulate significant changes in the organization and delivery of health services while creating powerful incentives to improve efficiency and productivity. </p>
<p>The authors say it will be especially important to establish a system for monitoring progress on health reform goals and provide a mechanism for "mid-course corrections and further changes as needed to move the United States toward a high performance health system."<br /></p>