WCAX - Welch Proposes ACA Changes

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By Kyle Midura

Vermont's lone congressman is proposing tweaking Obamacare.

Along with creating online health marketplaces, the landmark legislation also allowed states like Vermont to experiment with Accountable Care Organizations. The model ties payments to Medicare providers -- it focuses on the quality rather than quantity of services. Rep. Welch says his new bill would allow ACOs to better incentivize value-based care, increase collaboration, and call for more data-based care.

"If you essentially created more opportunities for coordination of care, gave more flexibility to the providers, more patient involvement, it would result potentially in better health care at lower cost," Rep. Welch said.

Hospital CEOs say there's anecdotal evidence that ACOs are working but the data to back up those claims is not available yet. Care providers are rewarded with a split of savings when Medicare's bills are reduced.

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