Health Care - Cost Control

The League believes that efficient and economical delivery of care can be enhanced by cost-control methods. Specific cost-control methods should reflect the most-credible, evidence-based research available on how health care financing policy affects equitable access to health care, overall quality of care for individuals and populations, and total system costs of health care and its administration. Methods used should not exacerbate disparities in health outcomes among marginalized residents.

If they meet the above criteria, cost control methods could include:

• Reduction of administrative costs, both for the insurance program and for providers.
• Negotiated volume discounts for pharmaceuticals and durable medical equipment to bring prices closer to international levels, or importing of the same to reduce costs.
• Evidence-based treatment protocols and drug formularies that include cost/benefit assessments of medical value.
• Malpractice reforms designed both to compensate patients for medical errors and to avoid future errors by encouraging robust quality improvement processes (at individual and systemic levels) and open communications with patients.
• Investment in well-care, such as prevention, family planning, patient education, primary care to increase health and reduce preventable adverse health events/expenditures. 
• Investment in maternal/infant care, chronic disease management, and behavioral health care.
• Provision for short-term and long-term home-care services to reduce institutionalization.
• Regional planning for the allocation of personnel, facilities, and equipment.
• The establishment of maximum levels of public reimbursement to providers.
• The use of managed care.
• Utilization review of treatment.
• Mandatory second opinions before surgery or extensive treatment.
• Consumer accountability through deductibles and copayments.