Premier Recommends Congressional Action to Improve Outcomes and Reduce Federal Spending

Premier responded to an RFI from Republicans on the House Budget Committee’s Health Care Task Force asking stakeholders for input on what steps Congress can take to improve outcomes and reduce federal healthcare spending. In its comments, Premier urged Congress to:

• Pass the bipartisan, bicameral Preventive Health Savings Act (S.114/H.R.766), which would allow Congress to more easily request Congressional Budget Office estimates of preventive health initiatives beyond the ten-year scoring window to capture potential long-term health savings in federal programs.
• Support a continued emphasis on movement to value by extending expiring incentive payments for providers participating in advanced APMs, passing the bipartisan Value in Health Care Act (H.R. 5013), and reforming the Stark and anti-kickback statues.
• Permanently extend certain telehealth flexibilities with appropriate guardrails to allow providers to continue to furnish services effectively and efficiently to patients remotely.
• Hold the FDA accountable for implementing provisions in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act aimed at preventing drug shortages.
• Streamline, standardize and implement automation of the prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries by passing policies contained in the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act.
• Consider policies that incentivize nursing homes and other long-term and post-acute care providers to implement electronic health records and electronic clinical surveillance technology to provide meaningful assistance with infection control.
• Pass the bipartisan, bicameral Preserving Patient Access to Home Infusion Act (S. 1976/H.R. 4104) to expand access to infusion services in the home.