HHS launches new Affordable Care Act initiative to strengthen primary care

[cbayer]

Initiative will provide bonuses to primary care doctors who better coordinate care, help use health care dollars more wisely

PRESS RELEASE
Sept. 28, 2011, 11:47 a.m. EDT

WASHINGTON, Sep 28, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today launched a new initiative made possible by the Affordable Care Act to help primary care practices deliver higher quality, more coordinated and patient-centered care. Under the new initiative, Medicare will work with commercial and state health insurance plans to offer additional support to primary care doctors who better coordinate care for their patients. This collaboration, known as the Comprehensive Primary Care initiative, is modeled after innovative practices developed by large employers and leading private health insurers in the private sector.

"Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, we are helping primary care doctors better coordinate care with patients so they get better care and we use our health care dollars more wisely," said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

The voluntary initiative will begin as a demonstration project available in five to seven health care markets across the country. Public and private health care payers interested in applying to participate in the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative must submit a Letter of Intent by November 15, 2011. In the selected markets, Medicare and its partners will enroll interested primary care providers into the initiative.

more at link

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hhs-launches-new-affordable-care-act-initiative-to-strengthen-primary-care-2011-09-28

[mdmc]

1. unrec for the lack of affordable medical care

although I thank you for the link..

[SidDithers]

2. rec

Sid

[young but wise]

3. Great news.

[pinto]

4. Kick

:kick:

[yardwork]

5. In anticipation of this, medical schools and practices are making some interesting changes.

Thanks for posting this. It may become a very powerful driver of significant change in our health care system. If things work the way this is designed to encourage, our system may gradually change from one that rewards doctors for the quantity of care they provide (numbers of patients seen in an hour, numbers of diagnostic tests, numbers of procedures) to a system that rewards doctors for the quality they provide, as measured by better management of chronic illnesses, fewer hospitalizations, etc.

It's actually very exciting. K&R

[cbayer]

6. That seems to be the general goal of Dr. Berwick's programs and it is, indeed, very

good news (and about freaking time).

I think he is doing everything that can be done to reform Medicare into a system that will be prepared to become the universal provider of healthcare in this country.

Hope you are well and hanging in there.

:hi:

[yardwork]

7. Thanks! You too!