Iowa Committee Produces Principles for National Efforts to Reform H...(rm initiatives should encourage and set ...),Health

The Committee's principles were transmitted to President Obama, members of the Iowa congressional delegation, and other key policymakers to serve as guidelines in the national discussion on health care reform. Failure to incorporate such principles, the Committee warned, would likely weaken any effort's ability to produce long-term sustainability:

"The people who provide goods and services attempt to contain costs while offering high quality to the greatest number of consumers. The goal for health reform should be no different. Value in health care means higher quality care at lower cost. Ample evidence exists that improving value is possible, but not without a transformation in provider practices, purchaser coverage agreements, and patient expectations with a commitment by all to reduce costs for long-term system sustainability."

"So far, the health reform debate has focused largely on increasing access to quality, affordable, health care for all Americans - a goal that the Committee supports. However, simply expanding access to the current system would exacerbate its problems. Costs would rise and quality might not improve. That is why our primary recommendation is that any effort to change the health care system be explicitly linked with value."

"The publication released today by the Iowa Committee for Value in Healthcare should be required reading for the President and Congress as they negotiate the details of health care reform legislation. The consensus-based principles agreed upon by members of the Committee can be used to evaluate any plan's ability to improve the current system. Moreover, satisfying these principles should serve as a prerequisite for the adoption of a plan seeking to remedy the country's health care ills," said Sara Imhof, Concord Midwes
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