Simplified Administration

Streamlined administration, such as the use of electronic medical records, improves quality and safety while reducing costs.

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

Health Reform Advocates Push for Completion of Temporary Insurance Pool

AARP and the American Heart Association, both organizational members of National Coalition on Health Care joined with other health reform advocates to urge HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to ensure timely and effective rulemaking about the temporary high risk insurance pool. Designed for those who lack insurance due to a pre-existing condition, the high risk programs under the health reform legislation must be in place by June 21, 2010. The groups pressed HHS not only to meet the deadline but also for a transparent administrative process, uniform rules for eligibility, clearly defined rates and premium assistance for those who need it. They also expressed concern about the states being able to meet related deadlines. For the full text of the letter, click the link above.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Coverage, Insurance, Policy Implementation, Simplified Administration, Vulnerable Populations

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):

Issue Areas

One national study found that previously uninsured adults obtaining Medicare at age 65 had higher total medical costs and greater use of health services than similar Medicare beneficiaries who were previously insured.