Establish Alliance of Stakeholders to Transform Health Care (language only)

Item 278 #4s

Language
Page 227, after line 45, insert:
"C.  The Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Office of the Governor, shall create the Alliance of Stakeholders to Transform the Health Care System work group.  The work group shall include, but not be limited to, agency heads within the Secretary of Health and Human Resources and other key state agency officials as recommended by the Governor's office, members of the House of Delegates and Senate appointed by each respective chamber, the Commissioner of the Bureau of Insurance, large and small employers including businesses that operate large private sector health plans that are covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), hospitals, health plans, physicians and other provider groups, consumers, experts on trends in public and private health care as well as medical care and training and operators of electronic health care records exchanges.  The work group shall develop strategies designed to reduce the rising cost of health care while improving quality.  The work group shall propose recommendations that may include federal changes including modifications to provisions within the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.  The work group shall consider strategies to (i) define and collect data to create a profile of health care in Virginia, (ii) establish statewide baselines and goals for healthcare spending, quality, and other measures as appropriate, (iii) use existing health care spending programs to accelerate the trend toward coordinated, risk-based care, (iv) encourage consumer selection of high-value care based on cost and quality data, and promote market competition, (v) reform health care regulations to promote system efficiency, and (vi) promote better population health and personal responsibility in health care.  The Secretary shall provide annual updates on the work group's findings and recommendations to the Chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees, beginning November 1, 2014."

Explanation
(This language amendment requires the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, in consultation with the Office of the Governor, to create the Alliance of Stakeholders to Transform the Health Care System work group. The goal of the group is to improve access to quality, affordable healthcare through public or private programs, including a robust safety net in order to reduce the overall trajectory of increasing costs in healthcare. The work group will be headed by the Secretary of Health and Human Resources but include stakeholders from policymakers, state agency heads, employers, providers and consumers. The work group will consider strategies to (i) define and collect data to create a profile of health care in Virginia, (ii) establish statewide baselines and goals for healthcare spending, quality, and other measures as appropriate, (iii) use existing health care spending programs to accelerate the trend toward coordinated, risk-based care, (iv) encourage consumer selection of high-value care based on cost and quality data, and promote market competition, (v) reform health care regulations to promote system efficiency, and (vi) promote better population health and personal responsibility in health care.)