New Commonwealth Fund Reports: ACOs, Leveling the Playing Field in Medicare, and More
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<em>It has come to our attention that you are among a group of subscribers who may not have received Commonwealth Fund e-alerts in the last six weeks due to a technical change in the way our e-alerts were sent. We have compiled below a list of reports that you may have missed. We apologize for the problem, which we believe has been remedied. </em>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/f1ff6dcee8f24e1cab74cd7000fdb3b…;
<strong>Achieving Accountable Care: Are We on the Right Path? <br></strong>
</a>If implemented successfully, accountable care organizations (ACOs) have the potential to achieve better care, better population health, and lower costs, according to this new report from the Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System. The report includes 10 recommendations to help ensure the success and spread of ACOs. In a <a href="/publications/publication/2011/apr/perspectives-health-reform-achieving-accountable-care-are-we">Perspectives on Health Reform commentary</a>, Commonwealth Fund researchers Mark Zezza and Stuart Guterman explore how the proposed rules for the new Medicare Shared Savings Program for ACOs align with the Commission's recommendations. Also see a page of all Commonwealth Fund ACO resources.</p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/ab39d358d5b1428f81175652a5fa54d…;
<strong>Leveling the Playing Field in Medicare</strong> </a>
<strong> <br></strong>Payments to private Medicare Advantage plans have exceeded Medicare fee-for-service costs ever since those payments were increased by Congress in 2003. According to this new issue brief, in 2010, payments to such plans exceeded average costs in fee-for-service Medicare nationally by 8.9 percent—a total of $8.9 billion. Under the Affordable Care Act, payments to Medicare Advantage plans will be reduced beginning in 2012, to be more in line with those in fee-for-service Medicare. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/c7ae2cf6119947b288c6e55ec6bb1d2…;
<strong>Stark Choices: The Health Care Budget Proposals</strong> </a> <br>In their proposals to address the federal budget deficit, the President and the House of Representatives have advanced fundamentally different paths for the nation. In this blog post, Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis outlines the health care provisions in each proposal and considers their impact on the availability of affordable, comprehensive coverage and the drivers of health care costs. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/162a96cbcc1c43db9739e2c54876629…;
<strong>New Study: Health Reform Will Make Insurance Affordable for Nearly All Families <br></strong>
</a>Ninety percent of American families living above the federal poverty level will be able to afford health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, according to MIT health care economist Jonathan Gruber, lead author of this Commonwealth Fund study. <br><br><a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2011/apr/call-change-2011-commonwealth-fund-survey-public-views-us-health"><strong>New Survey: 72 Percent in U.S. Think Health System Needs Major Overhaul <br></strong></a>Seven of 10 U.S. adults think the country's health care system needs to be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt, according to <em>A Call for Change: The 2011 Commonwealth Fund Survey of Public Views of The U.S. Health System</em>. As described in the survey report, concerns reflect the barriers people have encountered when seeking care, as well as their experiences with poorly coordinated care and growing costs. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/307ab4f930f243d1b4064a1254ec259…;
<strong>Improving Patient Safety: Commonwealth Fund Resources <br></strong>
</a>A new Commonwealth Fund Patient Safety Resources page offers links to Fund materials, including a recent overview of case studies of patient safety improvement initiatives in four integrated health care delivery systems. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/31edb35cf0d9454b9135e725cc3a049…;
<strong>Comparative Effectiveness Research Could Save Money, Support Providers, and Empower Patients <br></strong>
</a>The authors of this <em>New England Journal of Medicine</em> analysis of comparative effectiveness research conclude that, while such research will not always yield definitive conclusions, it is a "very good investment for the federal government and U.S. taxpayers." Also see a <a href="/blog/2011/promise-comparative-effectiveness-research-empowering-patients-and-providers">related blog post</a> by The Commonwealth Fund's Anthony Shih, M.D., on the promise of comparative effectiveness research for patients. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/fb39620794db4ce7a6d33bfedffdeb6…;
<strong>Learning from the Best- and Worst-Performing States</strong> </a>
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</strong>The authors of this Commonwealth Fund brief interviewed stakeholders in states with high-ranking and low-ranking health system performance, according to The Commonwealth Fund's State Scorecard on Health System Performance. Findings suggest there are market, political, and cultural characteristics that can help or hinder health system improvement. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/babaca64ca8d4eedabe58cc71b1f9b2…;
<strong>Health Reform's Protections for Americans with Disabilities <br></strong>
</a>As explained in this new Commonwealth Fund issue brief, the health reform law will not only enable people with disabilities to secure access to more affordable coverage, it will help ensure that the coverage they purchase is appropriate to their health care needs—and won't leave them at risk for high out-of-pocket costs. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/9846c28c02914adb8c9971cca008779…;
<strong>Strengthening Small Practices by Sharing Resources <br></strong>
</a>In this issue brief, Commonwealth Fund researchers shine a light on an especially promising strategy for expanding the capacity of solo and other small physician practices: sharing clinical support services and health information systems with other practices. </p>
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<a href="http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/a5ee4811e4ab48998998e4442eb5d13…;
<strong>Low-Cost, High-Impact Program Helps Keep Nursing Home Residents Out of Hospital <br></strong>
</a>A program designed to help nursing homes identify and manage acute conditions and status changes among residents achieved a 17 percent reduction in hospital admissions when tested among 25 facilities over a recent six-month period, according to a Commonwealth Fund–supported evaluation published in the new issue of the <em>Journal of the American Geriatrics Society</em>. </p>
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<strong>See past issues of The Commonwealth Fund Connection for other recent publications: <br></strong>
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<a href="/newsletter/commonwealth-fund-connection/stark-choices-karen-davis-health-care-budget-proposals">April 29, 2011</a>: Karen Davis on the health care budget proposals; health reform will make insurance affordable for most families; and more. </li>
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<a href="/newsletter/commonwealth-fund-connection/new-survey-72-percent-us-think-health-system-needs-major">April 15, 2011</a>: Majority of Americans think health system needs major overhaul; achieving accountable care; reducing hospital readmissions; and more. </li>
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<a href="/newsletter/commonwealth-fund-connection/understanding-accountable-care-organizations-resources">April 1, 2011</a>: Understanding accountable care organizations; protecting Americans with disabilities; aviation safety practices that could be applied to health care; and more. <br><br><br> </li>
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