The federal government has made it known that if consumers or business owners can determine a way to improve employee benefits delivery and costs under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), they will be rewarded handsomely with some financial compensation.
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), health officials will spend up to $1 billion in awards for the effective implementation of a health services model that lowers costs for coverage, such as through Medicare, Medicaid and other forms of insurance.
Though any ideas on the best method of delivery are welcome, CMS says it's looking for specific concepts and models that will "rapidly" reduce costs associated with coverage and treatments for services like outpatient radiology, home-based and therapeutic services, as well as physician-administered drugs.
Another area that CMS hopes to enhance is the healthcare of people with a unique set of needs. For example, persons with Alzheimer's disease, children in foster care, individuals requiring long-term support as well as those with behavioral health requirements – such as autism – will be prioritized.
"Interested parties of all types who have developed innovations that will drive significant improvement in population health, quality of care and total cost of care are welcome to apply," CMS stated in a release.
Insurers appear to be resigned to the possibility that healthcare costs will grow under the ACA. Seventeen of the nation's largest insurers recently made cost estimates suggesting that premiums could rise as much as 400 percent when the health reform law goes into effect next year, according to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
