BCBSA Applauds New HHS Public-Private Partnership To Advance Medicare Electronic Health Records
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans will participate in HHS electronic health records demo
June 10, 2008
WASHINGTON – Today's announcement by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) awarding twelve communities a new electronic health record (EHR) demonstration project will help improve patient safety and promote quality for Medicare beneficiaries by accelerating the adoption of health-information technology throughout the entire system, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) said today. BCBSA is also pleased that this important public-private initiative will include several Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
"BCBSA strongly supports HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt's efforts to accelerate the adoption of EHRs through a number of initiatives, including this new public-private partnership," said Scott P. Serota, BCBSA president and CEO. "Today's announcement is a shot in the arm to making that goal a reality for Medicare beneficiaries and, over the long term, all Americans. By better aligning the incentives and leveraging the market power of Medicare and the private sector in local communities, all stakeholders can work together to promote improved outcomes and more accountability in the system through the expanded use of electronic health records."
The new demonstration project announced today by HHS will provide Medicare incentive payments to primary-care physician practices that use certified EHRs to improve the quality of patient care.
"BCBSA strongly believes that changing incentives to encourage doctors and hospitals to provide better care should be a cornerstone of any larger health reform effort. Encouraging EHR adoption for Medicare beneficiaries is an important precedent that will promote wider adoption across the entire system," said Serota.
Earlier this year, BCBSA unveiled a detailed five-point plan - "The Pathway to Covering America" - for comprehensive reform. Building upon the employer-based system, this plan not only seeks to change incentives to encourage doctors and hospitals to provide better care but also to encourage comparative effectiveness research; make much-needed improvements to our nation's health information technology process; promote better health and wellness; and foster public-private coverage solutions.
More examples of initiatives by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to improve quality and value are highlighted in "The Pathway to Covering America," which can be found on the BCBSA Web site at: www.bcbs.com/issues/uninsured/pathway-to-covering-america/.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for nearly 100 million members - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.
