Incentive model could save nation $368B, report says
Investment in a healthcare incentive, decision-making and cost-effectiveness program could save the United States $368 billion over 10 years, a new report contends. Combined with other healthcare efficiency initiatives, total savings of more than $1.5 trillion could be achieved. The Commonwealth Fund-supported study, titled "Bending the Curve: Options for Achieving Savings and Improving Value in Health Spending," looks at policies for healthcare IT and healthcare efficiency, clinical decision-making, public health programs and initiatives, and financial incentives such as pay for performance. DATE: 12/19/07
California Assembly passes healthcare coverage bill
California's state assembly passed ground-breaking health legislation that promises to extend healthcare coverage to millions of uninsured California residents. The plan, negotiated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and assembly leaders, is surrounded by questions and concerns from industry groups. On a vote that followed party lines, the assembly approved Assembly Bill IX. The program would expand coverage to nearly 70 percent of the state's more than 5 million uninsured residents. It also would require most state residents to have health insurance by July 1, 2010. DATE: 12/19/07
Doctors campaign for universal healthcare
The American College of Physicians, the nation's largest medical specialty group, has endorsed single-payer healthcare as a national reform agenda. ACP, with 124,000 members, said after careful evaluation of the health systems of 12 other nations, it is ready to stand behind a single- payer national healthcare system as the "one pathway" to universal coverage. DATE: 12/12/07
Report: Focus on chopping drug prices is 'misguided'
Efforts to ratchet down drug prices aren't enough to get the most value from the Medicare drug benefit, said Ruth Lopert and Marilyn Moon in their report, "Toward a Rational, Value-Based Drug Benefit for Medicare. The two suggest an alternative approach to the current system by introducing a form of reference pricing. Under that approach, the prices for all drugs in a group would be set at the same level, except when evidence supports a clinically important difference in patient outcomes.DATE: 12/05/07