People's universal health insurance plans strategies
By: Peterr nike
Submitted: 2010-05-07 06:22:52 | Word Count: 556
The health care reform law was enacted in 2006. It requires nearly every resident to obtain health insurance coverage. Through the law provides free health care for residents earning less than 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL), and partially subsidized health care for those earning up to 300% of the FPL, depending on an income-based sliding scale.
The law established an independent public authority, the Commonwealth Health Insurance Connector Authority, also known as the Health Connector, which offers the subsidized coverage and facilitates the selection and purchase of private insurance plans by individuals and small businesses.
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Incentives for residents to obtain health insurance coverage include tax penalties for failing to obtain an insurance plan. In 2007, tax filers who failed to enroll in a health insurance plan that was deemed affordable for them lost the $219 personal exemption on their income tax. In 2008, penalties increase by monthly increments, and are based on half of the cost of a health insurance plan.
Once implemented, in other words, universal health insurance became overwhelmingly popular (the Mass. law was passed in 2006). That's the Republicans worst nightmare; that one big reason they are fighting this so hard.
As the nation struggles with the urgent challenges of checking all Americans have access to quality, affordable care, health insurance plans are building ahead with proposal to progress health care quality through reporting and payment reforms that support value, encourage ongoing improvement, and advance high-quality health care.
To acquire an improved sense of the extent and multiplicity of health plan programs and proposals aiming quality improvement, America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) surveyed a representative model of commercial and Medicare Advantage member health insurance plans on behalf of more than 95,000,000 covered lives. The survey data, collected in 2009, demonstrate health plan activities and programs that improve quality of care, patient safety, and reduce costs to the health care system.
Health insurance plans are rewarding physicians and hospitals for quality of care provided to ensure patients receive the best care for their individual needs. By measuring and reporting on a standard set of confirmation-based metrics, health plans, physicians, and hospitals are working together to improve the quality of health care and promote accountability. Anthem blue cross is the largest health insurance company in United States. Blue Shield is next biggest company after Anthem Blue Cross in California. Both are excellent companies and highly recommended. There are several other health insurance companies in California like Aetna, Health Net and PacifiCare United Health care etc
The new strategies followed by health insurance plan that help physicians and hospitals to improve patient health are,
1. Pay for Performance Programs: Health plans reward providers for achieving national benchmarks, demonstrating outstanding performance, and making measurable improvements over time.
2. Centers of Excellence: Health plans review nationally reported data and results from their own analysis to develop networks of facilities with strong track records of quality care, health outcomes, and patient satisfaction.
3. Targeted Quality Improvement Programs for Physicians and Hospitals: These programs focus on high-value opportunities such as prevention of hospital acquired infections, the patient centered medical home, and disease management, to name a few.
