PRINCIPLES AND PRIORITIES FOR HEALTHCARE REFORM IMPLEMENTATION
North Bay Leadership Council strongly reaffirms our commitment to the creation of a healthcare system that provides universal access to high‐quality affordable care.
The passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was an important step toward that goal. NBLC will work with policymakers to ensure that this law is implemented in a way that improves economic competitiveness in the global economy, respects the moral obligation to cover the uninsured, the practical necessity to improve affordability for purchasers and consumers, and the urgent need to improve the health of Americans.
Leadership is needed to make health reform a priority and reality. NBLC will engage in communication with and outreach to employers, the public, and other stakeholders on the potential of health reform; on how to best maximize its positive attributes; and on state and federal opportunities connected with health reform implementation. As one of the top public policy issues that is effecting our national economic competitiveness, it is critical that NBLC and other organizations support reforms that will enable needed change in today’s healthcare system.
Over the course of the coming year, NBLC will partner with others to focus on the following high priority areas for California employers:
Preserve and Fully Fund Cost‐Controlling Elements of Reform
There are many provisions of the law that aim to bring down costs while improving the quality of care. Among others, these include the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, the Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute, and a host of workforce and payment reform projects including expanded coverage for preventive services and support for new coordinated care models like Accountable Care Organizations and Medical Homes. Cost control is an essential component of healthcare reform, and Congress must fully fund these programs. California also must continue to innovate in areas such as care coordination and Value‐enhancing medical technology.
Create an Economic Environment that Rewards High‐Value Care
As employers, NBLC has a critical role in building on the elements of federal reform that create incentives for all stakeholders to focus on improvement in patient outcomes, care coordination, appropriate use of resources, and value‐enhancing medical innovation. We will continue to take steps to assure that our payments to providers reward quality and affordability and to create appropriate incentives that encourage value‐conscious decisions by consumers. It is important that these incentives be aligned across private and public payers so that the market consistently rewards actions that maximize the health of all Californians.
Build a Successful California Health Benefit Exchange
NBLC seeks to work in close coordination with the Exchange to drive higher quality and cost containment through value‐based purchasing and rewarding efficient and coordinated care. Among the most important priorities for the Exchange, should be improving the affordability of health insurance for individuals and small businesses and creating a world‐class customer service experience for all people accessing coverage through this portal.
Focus on Initiatives that Promote Patient Safety and Health Outcomes
The protection of patients is prioritized within the ACA through provisions focused on reducing healthcare‐acquired conditions and unnecessary hospital readmissions and on better managing chronic diseases. As healthcare providers and purchasers, we are committed to working across sectors and with policymakers to promote prevention, patient safety and reduce the cost associated with preventable complications and infections, such as sepsis.
Maintain Commitment to Public Health Goals
The ACA encourages improved health through community‐based prevention and public health strategies. It also envisions an important role for employers through workplace wellness programs. These initiatives – particularly those focused on addressing obesity and encouraging physical activity – should be supported and scaled up as quickly as feasible building on best practices and proven models. The transformation of the safety net to provide high quality, prevention‐oriented, coordinated care that features a “health home” should also be supported.
Provide Greater Transparency and Better Information for All Consumers
Both within and outside of the Exchange, employers and consumers must be able to compare much more easily health plans and products on the basis of quality and price. Consumers and purchasers should also be able to easily access quality and outcomes data on treatments, providers, and technologies.
Be Good Stewards of Resources by Making Government More Efficient
Reform implementation should make the system simpler and more effective for Californians by determining when programs can be combined and regulatory duplication eliminated. This is essential within an environment of constrained public resources. Government also has an important role in supporting the development and dissemination of state‐of‐the‐art information technology and setting common standards that will improve the efficiency of healthcare transactions.