Business groups seek health care payment reforms

The Memphis Daily News: Businesses are continuing to seek health payment reform. "Businesses are looking for ways to control costs, improve quality and reward successful treatments instead of paying more for readmissions and longer hospital stays. ... 'From the employers' perspective, we are willing to sit down at the table and redesign how we pay hospitals and physicians with the understanding that we're going to have improved cost and quality,' [Cristie]Travis said." Travis is the chief executive officer of Memphis Business Group on Health, "just completed a term as chair of the board of governors for the National Business Council on Health."

The news organization added that "there are no set rules for payment reform. Ideas up for discussion include the bundling of what would be normally be mass billings into fewer invoices, the establishment of bonus systems to reward hospitals for quality service and setting up medically centered homes for patients" (Wilemon, 10/20).