Freshmen Senators Urge Senate Majority Leader to Maintain Health Care Reform Provisions

Strategic Insights -

Senators led by Al Franken joined 12 of their fellow freshmen senators in urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to maintain the provisions of the Freshmen Amendment Package in the final health reform bill. The package aims to strengthen the bill's ability to contain costs and improve quality by incorporating ideas tested and proven in Minnesota. The senators argue that their package will help drive real delivery system reform, promote transparency and competition, and encourage accountability and responsibility.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Freshmen Amendment Package contains provisions to enhance value-based purchasing, bundled payment pilots, administrative simplification, health care fraud enforcement, Part D medication therapy management programs, data collection, efficiency measure development, Accountable Care Organizations, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Physician Quality Reporting System, and Independent Payment Advisory Board.
  • The package aims to strengthen the final health care reform bill's ability to contain costs and improve quality by enhancing value-based purchasing, administrative simplification, health care fraud enforcement, and data collection.
  • The Diabetes Prevention Act, championed by Sen. Franken, would enable Minnesota to expand its diabetes prevention program and encourage other states to take similar steps to help the 57 million Americans who are at high-risk of becoming diabetic.
  • The senators argue that the Freshmen Amendment Package will help drive real delivery system reform, promote transparency and competition, and encourage accountability and responsibility.

Statistics:

  • 57 million Americans are at high-risk of becoming diabetic.
  • The Freshmen Amendment Package contains provisions to enhance value-based purchasing, administrative simplification, health care fraud enforcement, Part D medication therapy management programs, data collection, efficiency measure development, Accountable Care Organizations, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, Physician Quality Reporting System, and Independent Payment Advisory Board.
  • 12 senators joined Sen. Al Franken in urging Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to maintain the Freshmen Amendment Package.
  • Comprehensive health care reform aims to contain costs and improve quality, enhance value-based purchasing, administrative simplification, health care fraud enforcement, and data collection.

Sources:

  • Senator Al Franken's office
  • [The Honorable Harry Reid Majority Leader United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510]
  • [The Honorable Max Baucus Chairman, Committee on Finance United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510]
  • [The Honorable Tom Harkin Chairman, Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510]
  • [The Honorable Christopher J. Dodd United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510]