Healthcare Reform in 2012

Healthcare Reform is in full swing right now. With two years of changes behind us, some significant changes have been created our healthcare system. Some, like preventing discrimination against children with pre-existing conditions or eliminating lifetime benefit limits, have been received well. Others, like the controversial 'Doughnut Hole' in Medicare prescription coverage, have not been so popular. 2012 will see 5 sections come to fruition, utilizing the focus of improving the particular of care while reducing costs. For everyone who makes use of healthcare, these regulations should hold combined effect of making our healthcare experience less expensive, faster, and better. The first section to come into effect was scheduled for January 1st, and encourages the development of Accountable Care Organizations, or ACO's. Basically, it gives an incentive for physicians and facilities to coordinate patient care and both improve quality while preventing disease, illness, and unnecessary readmissions or lengthy stays. Hospitals and doctors will purchase an incentive based upon what amount money they save by offering better care. Patients should see better care and support, with lower costs through better policies and much less unnecessary testing. March will see the creation of a system that collects and reports demographic data like race, ethnicity, and primary language. The Department of Health and Human Services will use this data to identify and eliminate disparities in care between different demographics. This will serve to improve treat those who are not receiving the same standard of care as everyone also. October will see the introduction of 3 programs, but one may not make the time frame. The CLASS program, which stands for Community Living Assistance Services and Support, was subject matter of a letter to Congress from the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Programs. Basically, it was declared may did not see a viable way to have the theory ready for launch by the October 1 deadline. Subjected to testing still working on it, and it may improve the deadline or be introduced a bit late, no specifics have been bestowed. When introduced, it will be a national Long Term Care insurance program with voluntary participation. This means that you just will have to enroll and pay a premium, it will not be automatic like Medicare or Social Security. Less than 3% of Americans possess a Long Term Care insurance policy, and the intent of this program is actually make LTC more open to the average American. The next regulation scheduled for October has efficiency in mind. The new law will standardize billing practices, and move billing and health records with regard to an electronic format. The reducing of administrative costs, medical errors, and improvement in quality has already been used in hospitals that have chosen to take this board their own accord. This regulation will help spread these improvements nationwide. Finally, there is an adjustment to the way Medicare pays for services. It may be moving to a 'Value-Based Purchasing' program. Essentially, hospitals will have their performance publicly reported, and Medicare will base pay for procedures based on quality. Factors like heart attacks, surgical care, infections, and patients' perception of care to name a few will be factored in.