Monthly Archive for January, 2011

Pay for performance not sufficient to cure what ails us

By Katie Coleman, MSPH, Research Associate, Group Health Research Institute
“Pay-for-performance” is a buzzword that describes a different way of paying doctors. Instead of paying doctors a fee for every test or procedure they order (fee-for-service) or a flat fee each month for each patient regardless of the services they use (capitation), pay for performance contracts pay doctors based on the quality of care they provide.

It sounds like a good idea, but let’s think about it for a moment. Do we really believe doctors have every tool to provide great care, but choose not to because they aren’t getting a bonus for it? That all they need is a little prodding, a little money to improve their will?  Continue reading ‘Pay for performance not sufficient to cure what ails us’

Published on January 31, 2011 in Health Care Reform. 1 Comment Tags: , .

Urging support for prescription drug take-back programs

By Shirley Reitz, Pharm.D., Associate Director of Pharmacy Clinical Services, Group Health Cooperative

I recently spoke about Group Health’s successful drug disposal program, to inform the DEA’s implementation of the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010. Although our program, up and running since 2006 in 25 pharmacies, has been successful, the new law would allow us to legally accept controlled substances, which under current regulations can only be brought to a local police station for disposal.  Continue reading ‘Urging support for prescription drug take-back programs’

Published on January 26, 2011 in Health Care Reform, Quality Health Care and Uncategorized. 4 Comments Tags: , .

Federal advisory board considers co-ops

By Diana Birkett Rakow

Last week, I had the great opportunity to testify at the first public hearing of the Federal Advisory Board to the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) Program, which was created as part of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed last year. The 15-member board includes physicians, former regulators and government officials, consumer representatives, business people, and an actuary, appointed last summer by the US Comptroller General, who leads the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The full membership of the Board is described here. The Board’s job, as outlined in the health reform law, is to provide recommendations to the Secretary of HHS on how to structure the new program, including how to award grants and loans to organizations establishing new, member-run coverage providers that would provide insurance to individuals and small group through Exchanges, as outlined in the ACA. Continue reading ‘Federal advisory board considers co-ops’

Published on January 18, 2011 in Health Care Reform, Medical Home and Uncategorized. 1 Comment Tags: .

Federal support for state Basic Health

By Diana Birkett Rakow
As the State Legislature goes to work this week in Olympia, its biggest challenge will be balancing the state budget. With a nearly $5 billion shortfall for the next biennium, which begins in July 2011, several programs are on the table for reductions, or even elimination. One of those is the Basic Health program, which provides coverage to over 55,000 people around Washington State, about 10,000 of whom get their coverage and care at Group Health. Continue reading ‘Federal support for state Basic Health’
Published on January 14, 2011 in Health Care Reform and Medicaid. 0 Comments

ACOs could spread cost saving innovations

By Michael Erikson

Dr. Harold Dash, President of the Board for The Everett Clinic, and I presented at The State of Reform conference on January 5 on the topic of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)  — or as we presented being accountable for the care of patients in ways that increase the quality care and is more affordable.

Much discussion at the conference at SeaTac focused on tough challenges posed by steep state budget cuts that will hit critical health programs as well as the rising cost of medical care.  So there was a lot of interest in the topic of ACOs, which have been held out as one of the few elements of reform aimed at improving care and bringing down costs. Continue reading ‘ACOs could spread cost saving innovations’

Published on January 7, 2011 in Accountable Care Organization, Health Care Reform, Medical Home, Medical Home, Preventive Care and Quality Health Care. 1 Comment