Advocate

Policymakers recognize that you have to bend the cost curve, you have to do it while improving quality and patient safety, you have to put the patient first. –Karen Fisher, JD, Senior Director and Senior Policy Council, Association of American Medical Colleges

The U.S. is recognized as a leader in many areas, but our healthcare system has been labeled broken by many policymakers and thought leaders.  Despite outspending all other countries, our health outcomes are alarmingly inadequate.  For example:

• The U.S. ranks 37th in health status according to the World Health Organization
• The nation ranks 29th for infant mortality
• The U.S. ranks 19th in unnecessary deaths

Contributing to the high costs and quality challenges are the misaligned payment incentives from public and private payers that reward volume of service over quality, compensating providers for each service they deliver regardless of results.  The current U.S. payment structure does not incentivize providers to work together to coordinate care.

At the same time, the continuing economic slowdown in the U.S. and across much of the globe is placing even greater stress on healthcare systems.  Government at all levels and individuals are struggling to cope with rising insurance premiums, medication costs, and the chronic disease burden of an aging population.  In many states, Medicaid has becomg the single greatest fiscal challenge.

The need for innovation and efficiency in healthcare is greater than ever.  All of these factors are being faced as well in the Akron region.  ABIA has a lead role in helping to “bend the curve” of healthcare costs.  Through designing, implementing, and monitoring the ACC, greater coordination and delivery of health promotion and disease prevention, access to care and services, and healthcare delivery will be achieved.