Blue Cross And Blue Shield Association Supports Medicare Policy To Pay For Quality Care
Statement from Scott P. Serota, president and CEO, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
April 16, 2008
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Contact: |
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Kelly Miller (For Media Inquiries Only)
202.626.4825 |
WASHINGTON – Scott P. Serota, president and chief executive officer of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), issued the following statement regarding the announcement by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services today surrounding "never events" payments:
"We need to change incentives in the healthcare delivery system to encourage and reward providers for delivering high-quality, coordinated care. With 30 percent of today's healthcare spending going to care that is ineffective, redundant or inappropriate, it is crucial to change incentives in the payment system to reward the delivery of high quality care. CMS' proposal to limit reimbursement for avoidable medical errors echoes our belief that our healthcare system must be changed so we are paying for quality of care, not volume of services.
"Changing incentives to promote better care is a key component of BCBSA's five-point plan, 'The Pathway to Covering America.' As healthcare leaders for nearly 80 years, the Blues are committed to building a well-functioning and totally integrated healthcare system based on proven clinical outcomes and economic value that will better serve the needs of American consumers – safely, efficiently and consistently."
Numerous 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 website 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.
