2009-04-15

Congressional committees continue to hold hearings on the issue of health-care reform as House and Senate leaders begin to develop the outlines of legislation expected to be introduced later this year.

Current legislative controversies are focused on procedural issues, but administration proposals on comparative effectiveness research, payments to Medicare Advantage Plans, and the potential creation of a public health plan that would compete with private sector alternatives are expected to be divisive as reform efforts move forward. Physician payment reform is also expected to be a major component of any overall reform package, with an overhaul of the problematic sustainable growth rate being a stated priority of many in the Obama Administration and Congress.

Reaffirming his commitment to health reform, President Obama issued an Executive Order on April 8 that formally establishes a White House Office of Health Reform and directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a coordinating office within the department. The various functions of the newly established office include the development and implementation of "strategic initiatives...to strengthen the public agencies and private organizations that can improve the performance of the health care system." The office also will work with Congress "to eliminate unnecessary legislative, regulatory, and other bureaucratic barriers that impede effective delivery of efficient and high-quality care." The Office of Health Reform will be headed by Nancy-Ann DeParle, who was named Director of the White House of Health Reform on March 2.

ASH will continue to be involved in the health reform process as it moves forward and will keep members informed of any new developments.

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