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The Role of Academic Health Centers
in Health Care Reform
2006 Annual Meeting
San Antonio, Texas
Leading health experts and analysts, as well as academic health center leaders and
key opinion-makers examined and debated the dimensions of academic health center
leadership involvement in health care reform. Expectations for reform varied as did
the visions for change and nation’s options given economic and political realties.
Everyone agreed that academic health centers must guide and influence the
evolution of the nation’s health system. These leaders recommended change at all
levels of government and within all sectors of the economy that contribute to and
impact health care delivery.
Summary
Reform is needed. The health system is broken because:
- The current system is fragmented and does not operate efficiently. There is increasing turbulence in the insurance market.The payment system is broken.
- There is a growing disconnect between hospitals and physicians.
- The health system needs greater transparency in terms of errors, efficiency, and pricing.
- People are overwhelmed by a sea of choices and need help navigating their way through the system.
- The American middle class is living with anxiety over the rising costs of health
care services and insurance. - There is also a lack of comprehensive, interoperable information technology.
- No one has enough information about what they are buying.
- Health promotion and disease prevention are not appropriately addressed.
There is a need change individual behaviors to combat unhealthy lifestyles. - There is an insufficient response to chronic disease; systemization and coordination is required.
The nation will need to address the following to improve and reform the system:
- The uninsured
- The health workforce
- Taxes
- The baby-boomer generation
Academic health centers can improve and reform the health system by:
- Educating and advising policymakers about the uninsured.
- Developing new health care delivery and training models
- Addressing Research Issues
- Address concerns that suggest academic health centers are compromising prestige and credibility by entering into joint ventures with the pharmaceutical industry.
- Set clearly defined boundaries with industry and reassert control over research data and the research agenda.
- Perception exists that the nation’s research agenda is driven by industry’s willingness to invest in new projects rather than what the country needs.
- Acting as knowledge brokers
- Advising states and convening state leaders.
The AAHC was pleased to partner with the New America Foundation to examine and
debate the dimensions of academic health center leadership and involvement in
health care reform.