D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 • O U T PA T I E N TS U R G E R Y. N E T • 4 1
companies to reveal the true cost of care so individuals will able
to shop for the best prices for procedures, exams or any other
medical-related procedures.
• Roll back Medicaid. Establish block grants to states, giving
them the power to manage funds at the local level and incen-
tivize the elimination of fraud, waste and abuse.
• Increase drug choice. Remove barriers to entry into free
markets for overseas drug providers that offer safe, reliable and
cheaper products to provide Americans with access to more
treatment options.
• High-risk help. Mr. Trump has recently expressed interest in
letting individuals with pre-existing conditions purchase insur-
ance as long as they maintain consistent coverage.
— Daniel Cook
tions in payments to Medicare providers through payment reforms
totaled about $800 billion over the past 10 years, says Dr. McDonough.
"Republicans like those cuts," he says. "Bundled payments and read-
mission penalties are staying. They won't say so in public, but
Republicans secretly think they're good."
Ms. Madhani sees a continued move away from the fee-for-service
payment plan. "The new administration is looking for ways to save
money. There probably won't be many new funds put into health care,
so they have to figure out how to stretch healthcare dollars using
resources that are already in place," she says.
What about ACOs?
Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) are groups of doctors, hospi-
tals and other providers who team up to give coordinated care to their
Medicare patients. ACOs that provide high-quality care while saving
