Health Care Payment Reform

Dr. John C. Lewin, chief executive of the American College of Cardiology, shares his view of health care payment reform in this Q&A in a blog post on The New York Times website.

A snippet of encouragement from Dr. Lewin:

The good news — and the reason why I’m excited about health care reform — is that the best health care in this country often tends to be very affordable. The whole discussion about bending the cost curve can be resolved by setting new incentives in payment that reward better outcomes with evidence-based medicine.

Everyone interested in health care payment reform should become acquainted with the Center for Payment Reform.

Its policy papers include Promoting Appropriate Payments for the Value Provided by Primary Care and Care Coordination:

Payment reforms must recognize the value provided by primary care in managing the health of individuals and populations. We will not create a delivery system that is patient-centered and well-equipped to deliver high quality care while controlling costs without changing payments to recognize the value of care coordination and the management of patients, particularly those with complex chronic illnesses.