Freshman Amendment to Senate Bill - Draft

A group of freshman democrat senators have crafted a proposal to contain costs in the senate bill (PPACA). The proposal would allow an array of pilot projects aimed at cutting medical costs to be expanded more rapidly if there is evidence that they are successful in reducing expenses.

on administrative simplification they offer:

• "Health Care Fraud Enforcement: We direct HHS to utilize technology to prevent fraudulent, abusive or improper payments prior to payment of claims".

as a physician, the legislation seems abundant in its focus on preventing payments - i would seek something that might enable us to be paid.

• "Eliminating Legal Barriers to Care Improvement: We would require GAO to study current law and regulation to identify barriers that may impede providers’ ability to improve the quality of care and the ability to aggressively implement the innovative delivery system reforms PPACA makes possible".

this would be helpful, particularly if it results in relaxation of antitrust barriers to collaboration, accountable care organizations, and gainsharing. But shouldn't this be studied prior to health care reform?

Mostly, not unlike their senior colleagues, the freshmen have trouble unleashing the potential harnessed by the physicians.