AHIP Board Backs Hill Reforms Plus 7

HealthWire reported today that AHIP is supporting the concept of a Federal Health Board among other policy goals.

The board of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) at a press conference in Washington today proposed 7 significant new health reform innovations as part of a package of ideas presented as a first-cut ‘comprehensive’ reform plan. While details were sketchy, a close reading of the new AHIP language shows it also endorses 13 out of 16 features of pending major Capitol Hill proposals.

The seven new health reform proposals from AHIP added to the mix include:

·         Congress will set a specific target for reducing national health spending over a 5-year period (from a 6.6% to 4.7% increase)

·         A new independent federal board (akin to the Federal Reserve) will develop a specific action plan for reducing health costs in the U.S.

·         A national multi-payer online portal will give all providers a uniform method to communicate with all health plans on eligibility and benefits

·         All payers will voluntarily adopt uniform national standards for quality, reporting and information technology versus today’s ‘piecemeal’ basis

·         Small employers will under federal law be offered an “essential benefits plan” available nationwide and exempt from state mandates

·         Emergency rooms will be replaced as a poor source of routine primary care for the uninsured by a planned and organized national system

·         Low-income patients will get bankruptcy protection from medical claims under a system of tax credits tied to percentage of income spent