BCBSA: Health Reform Starts With Research On What Works
Serota applauds Baucus, Grassley for holding hearing examining key issues
July 17, 2008
WASHINGTON – In response to today's hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on how best to improve quality in our nation's healthcare system, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) President and CEO Scott P. Serota issued the following statement:
"The nation's 39 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies applaud Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus and Ranking Member Charles Grassley for holding today's hearing examining how best to improve quality and expand access by changing payment incentives to providers, encouraging research on what works, and implementing health information technology.
"As today's new report from the Commonwealth Fund notes, the U.S. spends more on medical care than any other industrialized nation, yet all too often we are not realizing value for that spending. Other data shows that fully 30 percent of healthcare spending goes to care that is ineffective, inappropriate, or redundant.
"Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to improving the healthcare delivery system and have developed innovative models of payment for hospitals and doctors based on quality outcomes with demonstrated results.
"Regrettably, much more needs to be done. Our system is spending blindly on procedures, devices, and drugs without any real information about what works best and what is most effective. This approach is not sustainable and a healthcare system that is not embracing best practices today cannot be expected to provide optimal coverage to nearly 50 million more people.
"Consensus is emerging that an independent comparative effectiveness research institute would be an important step forward in bringing better information to patients and doctors so they may make more informed treatment decisions. BCBSA strongly supports the efforts of Senators Baucus, Conrad and others to advance legislation in this area.
"Changing provider incentives and putting more information quickly into the hands of consumers and providers could help bring about a sea change in delivering quality care."
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 more than 102 million individuals - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.
