(Dec. 16, 2008) Although the 111th Congress does not convene until January, health care reform efforts are already underway. Health care reform is a priority for the Obama administration, but Congress is expected to take the lead on the issue. Both Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Ted Kennedy (D-MA) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT) have already begun outlining plans for reform. The two chairmen, along with other key Senate health care players from both sides of the aisle, met before Thanksgiving to discuss their plans.
Prior to the meeting, Chairman Baucus released a white paper entitled “Call to Action,” outlining the principles he sees guiding health care reform discussions. He envisions the enactment of a policy that ensures meaningful coverage and care to all Americans while placing emphasis on higher quality and less costly care. He also is committed to weeding out waste, eliminating overpayments and designing a sustainable financing system. In his white paper, Baucus clearly states that a strong emphasis on primary care is vital to the creation of a high-performing health system. Potential changes to the GME system were also raised in the “Call to Action.”
While Chairman Kennedy has not and will not release a white paper on the topic, he has outlined principles to guide the reform effort. Key areas of the Kennedy reform plan are as follows: (1) primary care, which includes medical homes and improving medical education; (2) chronic disease management; (3) health information technology; (4) comparative effectiveness research; (5) transparency in the national process, which will provide consumers with information to make health care decisions based on value; (6) systemic payment reform addressing quality and efficiency; (7) prevention and wellness addressed on multiple levels with employers and communities; and (8) focusing on racial minorities and improving their access to medical care.
On the House side, Ways & Means Health Subcommittee Chairman Pete Stark (D-CA) has also released highlights of his health care reform agenda, which include the adoption of health information technology, comparative effectiveness research, expanding health coverage and strengthening Medicare. While the principles of all three Chairmen appear to overlap, we are still awaiting the details of their plans from all the committees with jurisdiction over health care.
We expect that the health care leaders in both the House and Senate will continue to work closely with President-elect Obama and will have legislation ready for introduction early in the 111th Congress.
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