Homepage Coalition Members

An estimated 25% of America’s health care dollars are spent on administration. The Emdeon Index estimates the efficiency of US health care at 43%. There is strong support within the Coalition for implementing the utilization of electronic medical records and streamlining of administrative forms and processes. For many members it is ironic that American health care information technology is used more effectively by other nations than within the United States.

Specifically, consideration should be given to adopting language to better ensure that investments in Health IT provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and health reform legislation achieve maximum possible impact:

o “Meaningful use” health IT bonuses linked to achieving better results

o Making health IT startup funds available to health care practitioners beginning to implement Health IT --without regard to case mix thresholds

o Developing and adopting of interoperability and provider communication standards to help establish a common platform

o Providing technical support programs for providers and institutions struggling to adapt to Health IT

o Supporting infrastructure like Minnesota Institute for Clinical Systems Support which allow health care practitioners everywhere to practice independently yet provide coordinated care

o Accelerating administrative simplification by setting a requirement that all insurance forms and processes for billing, enrollment, and credentialing be standardized across all payers within four years or less.

From Rx for Reform

Containing Costs and Avoiding Tax Increases While Improving Quality: Affordable Coverage and High Value Care

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.

From Facts & Research

New CBO Score Claims Greater Deficit Reduction from Health Reform

According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), in a preliminary cost estimate released today, the revised Health Care Reform bill -- H.R. 4872, the Reconciliation Act of 2010 -- would cost $940 billion over 10 years and cut the federal deficit over the next two decades. If enacted it will reduce the deficit by about $130 billion in the first 10 years and by $1.2 trillion over the second 10 years. Reform also will expand coverage to 95 percent of Americans, according to the CBO figures. To read the full CBO report, click here.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Coverage, Delivery System Reforms, Disparities, Drug and Device Cost Containment, Economic Impacts, Financing, Health IT, Innovation, Insurance, Policy Implementation, Prevention & Wellness, Quality & Safety, Simplified Administration, Workforce Reforms / Human Capital

Rules Committee Posts Text of Health Reform Corrections Package

The House Rules Committee posted the text of the final health reform bill, H.R. 4872 – the Reconciliation Act of 2010 – along with a section-by-section breakdown of the bill. To read the bill, click here.

Issue Area(s):

President Obama Calls for Completion of Health Reform

In released excerpts of his speech later today, President Obama reiterates the need for Congress to complete their work on health reform legislation, which he looks forward to signing into law. The President highlights the contributions of both Democrats and Republicans, as well as the symbolic nature of passing health care reform. He says, “At stake right now is not just our ability to solve this problem, but our ability to solve any problem.” To read the full set of excerpts, click here.

Issue Area(s):

Issue Areas

A RAND analysis found that business ownership rates jumped from 24.6% for adults just before 65 to 28% for adults just after 65, suggesting that many adults waited until they could get Medicare to start a business.