Recently the American College of Physicians issued to call to action that challenges America to implement a much needed systematic review of the healthcare system in which the ACP released a new vision for an improved healthcare system for all with ambitious and expansive policy recommendations on how to go about achieving it in a series of papers that have been published in the Annals of Internal Medicine entitled Better is Possible: The American College of Physicians Vision for the U.S. Health Care System.

The papers are a comprehensive interconnected set of policies meant to guide America to an improved healthcare system for the benefit of all, and it includes a call to action that challenges America to no longer settle for the status quo and implement systematic reform. The additional set of policy papers address issues related to coverage and costs of care, payments, delivery systems, and barriers to care as well as social determinants of health and offers specific recommendations that are supported by evidence on how America can change to achieve a better healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans.

The series of papers include:

"ACP set out to develop this new vision for health care by asking, 'What would a better health care system for all Americans look like?" said Robert M. McLean, MD, MACP, president of the American College of Physicians. "We believe that American health care costs too much; leaves too many behind without affordable coverage; creates incentives that are misaligned with patients' interests; undervalues primary care and under invests in public health; spending too much on administration at the expense of patient care; and fosters barriers to care for and discrimination against vulnerable individuals."

Specific recommendations in the papers serve as a foundation to achieve the vision for an improved healthcare system for the benefit of all Americans in which:

The papers were based on examinations and analysis of strengths/weaknesses of the current system, and the organizations analysis of major problems within the current system. The papers highlight potential solutions as a foundation of the best available data and evidence along with a comprehensive review of the literature and recommendations that build upon the organizations advocacy to support daily practice and well being of its members and the health of patients.

Their recommended systematic approach to reform includes:

The papers suggest that costs can be controlled by lowering the current excessive prices, increasing adoption of global budgets, all payer rate setting, prioritizing spending/resources, increasing investment in primary care, reducing administrative costs, promoting high value care, as well as incorporating comparative effectiveness and costs into clinical guidelines and coverage decisions.

"Through this extensive and forward thinking set of papers and recommendations, ACP hopes to lay the foundation for a better health care system for all. As internal medicine physicians, we face challenges every day in working through the current system on behalf of patients. We can and must imagine what a better healthcare system looks like, and be committed to attaining it. ACP, through this vision, is willing to accept that challenge, and calls on others to join us. We believe the status quo is an unsustainable model for our country and most importantly, our patients," concluded Dr. McLean. "All of us deserve better and better is possible."

See the rest here:
Call For Comprehensive Healthcare Reform In America - Anti Aging News