Interest, uncertainty surround health exchanges, ACOs

Jun 29 2011

In other news related to health law implementation, Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., has co-sponsored legislation to allow states to opt out of the health law until legal challenges related to it are resolved.

National Journal: Tommy Thompson: Health Exchanges Important
Republicans might be opposed to the health care law but governors should move forward with the health insurance exchanges, former Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson says. In an opinion piece published in the Huffington Post on Monday, Thompson, who was HHS secretary from 2001 to 2005, wrote that the exchanges have the potential to be a market-based solution. States should see the exchanges as an opportunity for innovation and, more importantly, a way to keep the federal government out of Medicaid, according to Thompson (Fung, 6/28).

Politico Pro: Survey: Public, Private ACOs Intrigue Execs
A new survey shows a strong interest in both commercial accountable care organizations and Medicare ACOs, though there is still a great deal of uncertainty about the Medicare Shared Savings Program outlined in March's proposed ACO rules. The survey was conducted by KPMG, EpsteinBeckerGreen, and JHD Group, via a three-part webcast in April with "about 3,000 health care industry professionals" who self-selected to participate (Feder, 6/28).

Kansas Health Institute: Moran says uncertainty about health reform law an issue for providers
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran is the co-sponsor of legislation that would allow states to opt out of the federal health reform law until the legal challenges to it have been resolved. Moran, a Republican serving his first term in the Senate after 14 years in the U.S. House, said his bill is aimed at sparing providers and insurance companies from having to make substantial changes to their businesses to comply with a law that may either be struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court or effectively repealed by the voters in the 2012 elections (McLean, 6/28).