Stating that “a system that is unaffordable for many today won’t work for even more people tomorrow,” Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) president and CEO Scott P. Serota on Jan. 23 unveiled a five-point plan for building on the employer-based system to improve quality, rein in costs, and expand coverage to all Americans.
The plan, titled The Pathway to Covering America: Ensuring Quality, Value and Access, lays out recommendations to change the incentives in today’s delivery system to help ensure high-quality, affordable care and offers solutions to expand access to coverage. Specifically, it includes recommendations to:
- Encourage research on what works--e.g., create an independent institute to support research comparing the relative effectiveness of new and existing medical procedures, drugs, devices and biologics.
- Change incentives to promote better care, and reward providers for delivering high-quality, coordinated care.
- Empower consumers and providers by providing information and tools for healthcare decision making.
- Promote health and wellness to help prevent chronic illness.
- Foster public-private coverage solutions.
