Earlier today, a group of 11 freshman Democratic senators released a package of amendments designed to strengthen the Senate health reform legislation’s payment and delivery system reforms helping to bend the cost curve and deliver high quality, high value, health care.
In a letter to those senators (full text after the break, pdf to the right), Health CEOs for Health Reform -- a diverse coalition of health industry leaders committed to achieving a more sustainable health system -- expressed it's support for the propsed changes.
December 8, 2009
| The Honorable Mark Begich | The Honorable Jeff Merkley |
| The Honorable Michael Bennet | The Honorable Jeanne Shaheen |
| The Honorable Roland Burris | The Honorable Mark Udall |
| The Honorable Kay Hagan | The Honorable Tom Udall |
| The Honorable Ted Kaufman | The Honorable Mark Warner |
| The Honorable Paul Kirk | |
United States Senate
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senators,
Health care reform must not only ensure quality, affordable health insurance for all, it also must tackle our system’s ever-rising costs. In addition, legislation must make clear that poor-quality, unorganized, and inefficient care will no longer be rewarded. Make no mistake: business as usual in our health system must change.
For these reasons, we extend our support today for your package of amendments. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act takes many significant steps toward a more sustainable health system. We believe your proposals improve that legislation by:
- Strengthening payment reforms in the Medicare and Medicaid programs
- Expanding the scope of reforms to focus on both the public and private sectors
- Reducing legal and administrative barriers to high-quality, coordinated care
Indeed, your package of amendments reflects closely many proposals included in our recent whitepaper, “Realigning U.S. Health Care Incentives to Better Serve Patients and Taxpayers.”
To be successful and sustainable, health care reform must begin to slow the rate of health care cost growth. This package of amendments brings us closer to that goal by enhancing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’s ability to incentivize higher-quality, lower-cost care.
A higher-quality, more efficient health system is eminently feasible. We have to look no further than our own backyards to prove it is possible. As health care leaders, it is our duty and responsibility to ensure the promise of affordable health insurance comes with a guarantee that care will be high-quality, coordinated, and safe. We applaud your leadership, share your goals, and offer our support. We urge our colleagues to do the same.
Sincerely,
Scott Armstrong, President and CEO, Group Health Cooperative
Bruce Bodaken, President, Chairman, and CEO, Blue Shield of California
Lloyd Dean, President and CEO, Catholic Healthcare West
Kenneth C. Frazier, President, Global Human Health, Merck & Co., Inc.
Dr. Patricia A. Gabow, CEO, Denver Health
Dr. Gary Kaplan, Chairman and CEO, Virginia Mason Medical Center
Donna Katen-Bahensky, President and CEO, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics
Anthony R. Tersigni, President and CEO, Ascension Health
Dr. Nicholas Wolter, CEO, Billings Clinic
Cc: Senator Harry Reid
Senator Max Baucus
Senator Chris Dodd
Senator Tom Harkin
Health CEOs for Health Reform (HC4HR) is a diverse coalition of health care leaders who share a unique willingness to transform their business models to create a more sustainable health system. HC4HR members are facilitated by the New America Foundation. There is no fee for HC4HR membership.
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