Reducing regulations and expanding care models that ensure coordination and reward performance are two ways to address health care prices, AHA General Counsel Melinda Hatton said today during a Kaiser Family Foundation panel discussion focused on the issue. “We have been big supporters of new models of care that reward quality and outcomes,” said Hatton, encouraging more experimentation with these types of models. In addition, Hatton highlighted the AHA’s Value Initiative, which the association launched last year to provide hospital and health system leaders with the education, resources and tools that they need to advance affordable health care and promote value within their communities. Kris Haltmeyer, vice president for health policy and analysis at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; Jenny Bryant, senior vice president of policy and research at the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America; Robert Murray, former executive director of the Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission; and Martin Gaynor, professor of economics and health policy at Carnegie Mellon University also participated on the panel, which discussed a wide range of issues. The panelists discussed a number of factors contributing to health care prices, including drug prices. “The focus I think needs to be on the list price of drugs,” said Haltmeyer, saying he hopes President Trump’s announcement on this issue later this week will take a close look at that. As part of the forum, KFF released two new analyses examining health care prices and utilization in the U.S. compared to other countries, and variations in prices in employer plans.

Related News Articles

Headline
The Federal Trade Commission and Department of Health and Human Services Feb. 14 requested comments for 60 days on market concentration and contracting…
Headline
At least 91% of hospitals had posted a machine-readable file containing rate information by the end of 2023, according to a new analysis by Turquoise Health.…
Headline
The Department of Health and Human Services, Department of Justice, and Federal Trade Commission Dec. 7 announced several new actions to promote…
Headline
The companies that make the first 10 Medicare Part D drugs selected to participate in the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program have agreed to participate in…
News
A number of legislative proposals being considered by Congress would impose billions of dollars in additional Medicare payment cuts for services provided by…
Headline
The Food and Drug Administration will accept comments through Nov. 17 on draft guidance for labeling proposed biosimilar and interchangeable biosimilar…