Press Releases
Statement by Blair Childs, senior vice president of Public Affairs, Premier healthcare alliance, on passage of health reform legislation
On behalf of 2,300 non-profit hospitals across the country, members of the Premier healthcare alliance applaud Congress for passing important reforms that will help improve healthcare quality and reduce costs.
Members of the Premier healthcare alliance have been strong and consistent supporters of delivery system and payment reforms. While there are many initiatives our alliance members can undertake on their own to improve the quality, safety and affordability of community healthcare, we needed this government action to fix perverse Medicare payment incentives. Delivery system reforms such as the expansion of hospital value-based purchasing (VBP), creation of Medicare-based Accountable Care Organizations that also allow CMS to join ACOs in the private market, and national pilots to test the effectiveness of bundled payments will go far to improve the quality and cost effectiveness of healthcare. Similarly, the creation of an independent comparative effectiveness research institute, establishment of a CMS Innovation Center, increased investment in the development of quality measures, and the disclosure of payments of value to physicians will increase transparency, reduce care variation, and avoid unnecessary healthcare costs.
As a nation, we have taken a significant step to enact health reforms that will create system-wide sustainability and improve the quality of care for all Americans, and we look forward to working with the Senate to now pass the reconciliation package.
About Premier Inc., 2006 Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award recipient
The Premier healthcare alliance is more than 2,300 U.S. hospitals and 64,000-plus other healthcare sites working together to improve healthcare quality and affordability. Owned by not-for-profit hospitals, Premier maintains the nation's most comprehensive repository of clinical, financial and outcomes information and operates a leading healthcare purchasing network. A world leader in helping deliver measurable improvements in care, Premier works with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the United Kingdom's National Health Service North West to improve hospital performance. Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Premier also has offices in San Diego, Philadelphia and Washington. Follow Premier on Twitter.