August 1, 2018
Dear Member of Congress:
We applaud recent congressional efforts to advance a value-driven healthcare system. Landmark legislation, such as MACRA and 21st Century Cures, has proven that Congress is committed to promoting better safety and value in healthcare delivery and payment.
With the move toward a healthcare system based on providing better value, it is imperative to recognize the transformational effect of this shift on the existing legal framework governing U.S. healthcare. As patients become more engaged in their healthcare, they expect and deserve high-quality and efficient interactions with the healthcare system. However, healthcare stakeholders have been deterred from implementing value-based payment approaches that would support delivering more efficient, coordinated care, at least in part due to an outdated legal framework. To enable better-coordinated patient care, as envisioned by members of Congress, the legal framework must promote and facilitate appropriate patient-serving care delivery and payment models involving broader collaboration among stakeholders. Both of these changes can help to accelerate ongoing improvements in care quality and patient safety while reducing the rate of cost growth.