Health reform update – the power of price transparency, more SIM concerns
At an important Public Health Committee hearing Wednesday, Senate leaders from both parties testified together on a slate of seven bills that would make a great start to reforming health care in our state. Among other things the bills address facility fees, price variation that has no relation to quality, hospital consolidation oversight, EMR assistance for providers, health care price, cost and quality transparency, accountable care, and creates a badly needed CT Health Policy Commission, based on MA’s successful model. Together these reforms both address the acute needs facing our state, and build structures to anticipate and solve future problems, making quality coverage affordable and building value throughout the system. The bipartisan support is special cause for hope that CT can finally get beyond flawed, agenda-laden health reform planning with something constructive. The Senators, advocates, and others also testified in favor of a bill that would, among other things, create a study to consider better uses for the federal SIM grant funding.