Tillis cosponsors bipartisan Value in Health Care Act

U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) recently introduced bipartisan legislation that would update the program parameters of Medicare’s Alternative Payment Models (APMs) to help increase participation in Accountable Care Organizations (ACO), which are value-based health programs designed to improve the quality and outcomes of healthcare for senior citizens while lowering costs.

“Value-based care programs have a successful track record of improving outcomes and reducing costs,” Sen. Tillis said. “I’m proud to join my colleagues in introducing this bipartisan legislation that will increase access to higher quality, lower cost, patient-centered care for the nearly two million seniors in North Carolina.”

Sen. Tillis is one of six original cosponsors of the Value in Health Care Act, S. 3503, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), John Thune (R-SD), and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) are also original cosponsors of S. 3503.

“The Value in Health Care Act will take an important step to further incentivize participation in these programs by financially rewarding coordination of care and patient outcomes, rather than the number of services provided,” said Sen. Tillis. 

Specifically, S. 3503 would extend the annual lump sum participation bonus for an additional two years; correct thresholds for Advanced APM qualification to better reflect the existing progress of the value-based movement; and eliminate arbitrary program distinctions, according to a bill summary provided by Sen. Tillis’ staff.

Additionally, S. 3503 would establish guardrails for the government to ensure that the process to set financial benchmarks is transparent and appropriately accounts for regional variations in spending to prevent arbitrary winners and losers, among other changes, the summary says.

The North Carolina Medical Society, the North Carolina Healthcare Association, Duke Connected Care at Duke University Health System, Advocate Health, the American Hospital Association, the American Medical Association, the Federation of American Hospitals, and the National Rural Health Association, among many others, endorsed the measure.