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How are we to ensure that health care reform is fiscally sustainable for both the public and private sectors? By reducing the rate of increase in future health care costs for American families, individuals, businesses and governments.
From Rx for Reform
In response to a question posted on the National Journal’s Health Care Expert Blog,
On the National Journal’s expert health care blog, Marilyn Werber Serafini opened discussion on the recent report issued by Medicare actuary Richard Foster, which stated that health care spending over the next decade could increase by up to 1 percent, due to new insurance coverage for 34 million people. In response to Serafini’s question regarding the meaning of this report for the fate of health reform,
NCHC Action Fund President and CEO, Ralph G. Neas, calls for an insurance policy for health care reform.
Noting that last spring, leaders of the health care industry, including representatives from PhARMA, America's Health Insurance Plans, the American Medical Association and American Hospital Association, met with President Obama and pledged to him and the American people that they would decrease the annual rate of cost increases by 1.5 percentage points to save $2 trillion or more over the next decade. Neas said the commitment that industry leaders made to the President and the American public "should be more than a photo op, press statement and promise." Citing Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus' piece about legislative cost containment efforts and needing a fail-safe mechanism to ensure that the rate of health care inflation is slowed, Neas urged that industry pledges to the President and the American people to control the growth of national health expenditures be codified and made enforceable as part of health reform.
The National Coalition on Health Care's recommendations, based upon the consensus view of 85 member organizations, to make the system less complex, reduce overly high prices, and create a truly competitive health care marketplace. The goal of the paper is to augment the NCHC Principles and Specifications with a more detailed and selective set of policy recommendations on cost containment and quality improvement.
How much merit is there to 11th-hour insurance industry claims that the health reform bill scheduled for a vote in the Senate Finance Committee this week would raise insurance premiums? And how big a problem is it that the industry, which had generally been cooperative in the reform effort, is now lashing out? -- Marilyn Werber Serafini, NationalJournal.com
The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation have issued a preliminary analysis of the Senate Finance Committee chairman's mark for the America's Healthy Future Act of 2009. They note it would reduce the federal budget deficits by $81 billion over the 2010-2019 period. What's your take?
From Facts & Research
To commemorate the one year anniversary of the passage of health reform legislation, Consumers Union developed a guide entitled The Affordable Care Act: The First Year. The guide outlines what the law means for consumers based on their current health insurance coverage, as well as details how the law pertains to owners and employees of small businesses.
Vitality Group research of more than 300,000 participants demonstrated that wellness programs incorporating positive incentives can lead to behavior change, which over time will result in lower healthcare expenditures. Vitality is a comprehensive health and wellness solution that educates, assists and motivates individuals to engage in a broad set of verified activities with proven outcomes.
Consumer Reports has developed a brief guide, Medicare: 6 Things You Need to Know Now, to educate consumers on how the Affordable Care Act has affected Medicare and benefits. The guide covers topics ranging from drug discounts to free preventive services.
