LaHood, Wenstrup, Bucshon propose bipartisan Value in Health Care Act

U.S. Reps. Darin LaHood (R-IL), Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), and Larry Bucshon (R-IN) on July 27 introduced a bipartisan bill that aims to take a collaborative approach to value-based health care in an effort to improve the quality of care and health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. 

Rep. LaHood sponsored the Value in Health Care Act, H.R. 5013, with five original cosponsors, including Rep. Wenstrup, Rep. Bucshon, and U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA) to make changes to the program parameters of Medicare’s Alternative Payment Models (APMs) in an effort to incentivize participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). 

“The Value in Health Care Act is a commonsense proposal that includes substantive reforms to encourage and support greater participation by healthcare providers in ACO’s, particularly in our rural communities in Illinois,” Rep. LaHood said. “By incentivizing the use of these value-based health models that support coordinated care between doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers, this legislation will improve healthcare access and the quality of care for seniors and patients across my district.”

“As a physician, I know how important it is that we are valuing positive patient outcomes over the sheer volume of services provided,” added Rep. Wenstrup. “This legislation will help improve health care access and quality for seniors, particularly in rural communities, by encouraging more providers to participate in value-based health programs and coordinating care between hospitals, physicians, and health care providers.”

According to information provided by the lawmakers, rules implemented to the ACO programs have limited the number of providers participating in APMs.

If enacted, the changes made to the APM and ACO parameters under H.R. 5013 include extending MACRA’s 5 percent advanced APM incentive payments for two years to continue to encourage the movement to value, and eliminating arbitrary program distinctions so all participants are participating on a level playing field, the information says.

Additionally, the bill would modify performance metrics and provide more technical support to ACO participants to cover the startup costs associated with program participation, among other provisions.

“Having been a practicing heart surgeon for over 15 years, I believe it’s critical we continue working to move our health care system away from simply reimbursing health care providers based on volume — like a commodity — to reimbursing providers for providing quality care that achieves positive outcomes for patients,” said Rep. Bucshon. “I believe this legislation will help us ensure that more health care providers — especially independent practice and rural providers — can easily participate in Medicare’s value-based and coordinated care programs, which will improve access to quality care for seniors.”

The Illinois Health and Hospital Association, the National Association of ACOs, Accountable for Health, and the American Medical Association endorsed H.R. 5013.