Health Insurance Group Unveils Reform Package

A trade association for health insurance providers is releasing its take on fixing the nation’s coverage crisis. Parts of the plan include familiar proposals such as promoting the adoption of health IT and a national database of best practices materials, but also includes a measure to increase value-based reimbursement.

According to AHIP, the following multi-approach proposal is key to reforming the current health care system:

• Access to information that compares the effectiveness and cost of treatments: Give providers, patients and purchasers access to a trusted source where they can find up-to-date and objective information on which health care services are most effective and provide the best value.
• Health information technology: Encourage widespread adoption of tools such as electronic health records (EHRs), personal health records (PHRs), secure e-visits with physicians, and e-prescribing.
• Reforming the legal system: Replace the current medical liability system with a dispute resolution process consisting of an objective, independent administrative process to provide quick and fair resolution to disputes while promoting evidence-based medicine.
• Build health care reform around quality improvement by rewarding safety, value and effectiveness: Work for the broader adoption of value-based reimbursement mechanisms and provide consumers with more actionable information about health care value.
• Enhanced disease management, care coordination and prevention programs: Deploy a new generation of strategies that emphasize prevention, improve chronic care and tailor healthcare for patients to help them live longer and stay healthier.