Authors: Christopher P Filson John M Hollingsworth Ted A Skolarus J Quentin Clemens Brent K Hollenbeck
Publish Date: 2010/11/03
Volume: 29, Issue: 1, Pages: 85-90
Abstract
Although the American health care system is the most expensive in the world it delivers inconsistent and sometimes poor quality of care Recent health care legislation contains several delivery system reforms that will attempt to address these issues We review these programs and discuss the implications for practicing urologistsWe evaluated the medical legal and public policy literature both print and electronic related to contemporary health care reform efforts We summarized the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 PPACA and examined four costcontainment and/or qualityimprovement mechanisms related to Medicare payment policy that will be implemented by this recently passed lawThe PPACA will expand health care coverage and promote bundled payment systems accountable care organizations and the patientcentered medical home as the vehicles for containing cost and improving health care quality The legislation will also establish an independent commission to enact costcontainment policy which may have significant implications in terms of physician reimbursementAlthough the recent health care legislation broadens coverage for millions of Americans there are limited data demonstrating the effectiveness of the costcontainment and qualityimprovement mechanisms established by this law Results from recently initiated pilot programs will emerge over the coming years and it remains to be seen how health care costs and quality will be affected
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