In the Affordable Care Act and other subsequent reforms, Congress directed the Department of Health and Human Services to test new ways to pay for health care, challenging health care providers, hospitals, and private insurers to provide better care for less money. Under President Trump and former HHS Secretary Tom Price, that work slowed and, in some cases, stopped altogether. With Price out the door, the nominee to replace him, Alex Azar, should commit to righting the ship.
Congress passed payment reforms to test several simple but powerful notions: First, paying doctors and other health care providers for the quality of their care, not just the number of tests they order, ought to improve the health of their patients. Second, keeping patients out of hospitals and other institutions ought to lower costs. Third, preventive strategies should keep people healthier and lower costs. Finally, holding health systems accountable for quality and total cost of care ought to drive innovation.
Alex Azar is a proponent of the corrupt drug industry. As CEO of Lilly he presided over unprecedented increases in insulin prices. The idea that this guy is going to be the head of HHS is an abomination