A New Strategy to Slow Health Spending Growth by $2 Trillion and Improve Health System Performance
<p>A set of synergistic policies designed to accelerate innovation in care delivery could slow health spending growth by $2 trillion over 10 years, according to a new report released today by the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. The report, <a href="/publications/fund-reports/2013/jan/confronting-costs-stabilizing-us-health-spending-while-moving">Confronting Costs: Stabilizing U.S. Health Spending While Moving Toward a High Performance Health Care System</a>, describes a comprehensive set of policies to change the way public and private purchasers pay for care, enhance consumers' choices of high-value care, and address the market forces driving up costs. </p><p>Estimates show that if the Commission's strategic approach is implemented soon, with public and private payers acting in concert, over 10 years federal spending could be reduced by $1.04 trillion, state and local government spending by $242 billion, and employer spending by $189 billion, compared with projected trends. </p>
<p>Families would also realize significant savings—$537 billion over a decade—as a result of lower future health insurance premiums and out-of-pocket costs. The Commission endorses the goal of holding health care spending growth to no more than the rate of long-term growth in the economy while at the same time improving health system performance. </p>
<p>Visit <a href="/publications/fund-reports/2013/jan/confronting-costs-stabilizing-us-health-spending-while-moving">commonwealthfund.org</a> to read the report and to view our interactive feature highlighting the new proposals and their potential impact on health spending and system performance. <br />
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