How to fix health care: Start with primary care, AHA says

Primary care is at the top of the list in a new policy blueprint that calls for broad, collaborative action to make health care more affordable for patients, employers and taxpayers.

The American Hospital Association (AHA) published “Making Health Care More Affordable: A Blueprint to Lower Costs, Improve Access and Enhance Quality.” It identifies five core strategies and 24 specific actions spanning prevention, care delivery transformation, administrative reform, drug pricing and technology innovation.

The first strategy is to “Improve the Health of Individuals and Communities,” and the first action to do that is to increase access to primary care and prevention. That includes more investment and capacity for maternal care, mental health and the workforce pipeline.

It’s a foundation for a collaborative approach that must happen across health care, according to the AHA.

“As the backbone of our health care system, hospitals and health systems are committed to delivering high-quality, accessible and affordable care in every community. But hospitals cannot solve affordability alone,” AHA President and CEO Rick Pollack said in a statement released with the report.

“It will require everyone, drug companies, commercial insurers, suppliers, government, patients and others, to fix our outdated system,” Pollack said. “The strategies outlined in this report are actionable, achievable steps that can help lower costs and strengthen access to care for Americans across the country.”

This slideshow lists each recommended action across the five strategies. All recommendations and data come from AHA.