Fixing Health Care: Driving Value Through Smart Purchasing and Policy

The US health care system faces a crisis of cost, inefficiency, low value, and complexity. As the Trump administration and Congress work to reform health care, they should consider the innovative approaches developed by purchasers who cover more than half of all Americans — employer-sponsored health plans. Large employers have improved quality and controlled costs through patient engagement, provider payment reform, and delivery system improvement.

On May 16,  AEI, the USC-Brookings Schaeffer Initiative for Health Policy, and the Pacific Business Group on Health hosted an event on an outside-the-Beltway perspective on fixing the American health care system. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar outlined the challenges we face and opportunities for public and private action. Attendees also heard from leading employers, payers, and providers about their initiatives. A second panel of policy experts discussed the opportunities and challenges of adopting employer health innovations in federal health programs.