OHIC Adopts Standards to Improve Health Care Delivery and Payment Systems

摘要

CRANSTON – In a step aligned with Governor Gina M. Rai- mondo's efforts to strengthen the health care system for all Rhode Islanders, Health Insurance Commissioner KATH- LEEN C HITTNER, MD , today adopted standards to signifi- cantly align health care payment methods with efficiency and quality by setting targets for commercial health care payment refor m and for continued investments in the pri- mary care patient centered medical home. These standards stem from the Affordability Standards implemented in 2010 by the Office of the Health Insurance Commissioner (OHIC) to support the agency's mission of improving the affordabil- ity of health insurance for consumers and employers. Beginning in March 2015, OHIC convened two advisory committees to develop recommended plans to expand the use of health care payment methods that reward efficiency and quality, instead of volume, and to increase the per- centage of insurer-contracted primary care practices that are operating as patient-centered medical homes (PCMHs). Upon Commissioner Hittner's approval, the recommended plans became standards which the Commissioner will enforce with the full power of the Office.