The article cites the following problems in the healthcare system and how provisions in the law would address them.
Lack of coordinated care. Each year, the average Medicare patient sees seven physicians, mostly specialists, in four practices. The law sets up more pilots to “bundle” payments to different providers for one episode of care.
Chaotic environment. In a 2009 survey, 48 percent of physicians reported working in “chaotic” environments. The will encourage use of patient-centered medical homes to organize care.
Need for more primary care. Adding one more primary care physician per 10,000 people is linked to a 6 percent decline in mortality. The law provides $26.4 billion in extra funds for primary care physicians over 10 years.
Physicians in small practices. Only one in five clinicians are in practices of more than 10 physicians. The law links small practices together in accountable care organizations.
Read the Washington Post’s report on healthcare reform.
