WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Looking to reproduce for the country a model started in Muskingum County, Democrat Congressman Zack Space, D-18th District, joined a number of members of Congress in introducing The Accountable Care Promotion Act of 2009 announced at a press conference.
"The current system rewards doctors for quantity, not quality," Space said. "It is time for that to change.
"By giving doctors the incentive to become more thorough, more efficient, and less wasteful with healthcare treatment, we will not only decrease costs, but improve care. It just makes good sense to reward doctors who strive to provide better, more efficient treatment."
The legislation seeks to reward healthcare providers who work to increase efficiency while continuing to provide quality service through the creation of "accountable care organizations (ACOs)," which provide a financial incentive for increased savings while ensuring a high standard of care, Space said.
Space was initially introduced to the ACO concept by Quality Care Partners, which operates in and around Muskingum County. The members of this group have already started working to improve efficiency without a significant financial incentive to do so. This legislation would encourage similar ACOs to start operating, serving to decrease the cost of healthcare delivery.
The legislation allows groups of doctors and hospitals to form "Accountable Care Organizations", which would receive a portion of the savings they offer to the government against a projected baseline of costs, Space said.
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