The Alliance for Health Reform discussed approaches to bending the Health Care cost curve.
In 2011, health spending constituted 17.9 percent of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) and rose $2.7 trillion. Health spending as a share of GDP has remained steady from 2009 through 2011, according to a recent report by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, but analysts warn that it could accelerate again due to an improving economy and aging population.
A panel discussed whether changes to the Affordable Care Act could slow spending growth, how public and private sectors can work together to address the problem, if we should establish spending targets and whether market-based incentives and reforms or provider payment or delivery innovation could help.
Panelists included: Stu Guterman, vice president and executive director of The Commonwealth Fund’s Commission on a High Performance Health System; Karen Ignagni, president and chief executive officer of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP); and Robert Galvin, chief executive officer of Equity Healthcare at the Blackstone Group, and former chief medical officer for General Electric.
Ed Howard of the Alliance and David Blumenthal of Commonwealth moderated the discussion.