Facts & Resources

Study Finds that Hospitals with Market Power are Under Less Pressure to Contain Costs

In its March 18, 2010 issue, Health Affairs published a study by analysts at the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission that showed Hospitals with strong market power and higher private payer revenues are under less pressure to control costs and tend to lack profits from Medicare services. Furthermore, they found that hospitals with tighter profit margins tended to control costs and made a profit on Medicare patients.  They conclude that it is a myth that hospitals have little control over costs and must charge private payers more to compensate for lower Medicare reimbursement rates. Click here for the study.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Policy Implementation

Cost Containment and Coverage Expansion May Reduce Financial Burden of Health Care

On March 26, 2010, Health Affairs published a study by Peter Cunningham, senior fellow at the Center for Studying Health System Change. Cunningham analyzed the financial burden of health care and its relationship to among other things, insured coverage rates and insurer market concentration. He concluded that cost containment efforts will have to be combined with expanding coverage to reduce the financial burdens of health care.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Coverage, Economic Impacts, Policy Implementation, Trends

CRS Report on Health Related Revenue Provisions

Health-Related Revenue Provisions: Changes Made by H.R. 4872, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Policy Implementation

House Committees Release Section by Section Summary of Health Reform Package

The House committees on Ways & Means, Energy & Commerce, and Education & Labor released a summary of HR 4872, The Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010.

Issue Area(s):

Policy Implementation

CRS Report Highlights Long-Term Care Options for Health Reform

This report developed by the Congressional Research Service outlines the aspects of health reform related to long term care and the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports provisions. To read the full report, click here.
 

Issue Area(s):

Policy Implementation

Congressional Research Service Report Outlines Private Health Insurance Provisions of Health Reform

In this report, the Congressional Research Service outlines the provisions of health reform related to the private health insurance market. Among these provisions are delivery and payment reforms and market reforms intended to increase access and bring down the cost of private insurance. To read the full report, click here.
 

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Insurance, Policy Implementation

CRS Report Identifies Workforce and Quality Provisions of Health Reform

The Congressional Research Service recently released an updated report on the workforce and quality provisions contained in health reform legislation. In addition to the workforce and quality provisions, this report also highlights the public health provisions of reform, as well as other related provisions intended to improve access and quality of care. To read the full report, click here.
 

Issue Area(s):

Quality & Safety, Workforce Reforms / Human Capital

CRS Highlights Potential Changes to Medicare Program

The Congressional Research Service released an updated report on the potential impact of health reform on the Medicare program. According to their report, CRS finds that at least several provision of health reform legislation intend to improve the program’s overall efficiency and quality through modifications to the payment and provider reimbursement systems, as well as the delivery of care protocols. To read the full report, click here.

 

Issue Area(s):

Cost, Delivery System Reforms, Financing, Policy Implementation

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):

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, Vulnerable Populations, Workforce Reforms / Human Capital

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