How disparities were viewed in Congress years before the reform?

[AJ Chen]

I was very excited to read a 2005 article written by Bill Frist: Overcoming Disparities In U.S. Health Care on Health Affairs.  In his view, disparities in U.S. health care are largely subsets of our overall quality problems. He introduced a bill in 2004 to address disparities. In the area of improving the quality of health care, the bill has the followings:

Information technology. First, health information technology (HIT) is critical. Robust care information and access to it will help providers and patients creatively redesign clinical practice in ways that will improve quality and close these gaps. All providers, including safety-net providers, must have access to HIT. HIT will help physicians and nurses who are working closely with their patients to provide higher-quality care at lower cost.

Performance measurement. Second, we must be able to assess the clinical care we provide to improve the quality of that care.

Provider incentives. We also must give providers incentives to promote innovative clinical redesign, which will improve the overall quality of care and close the gaps.

Patient self-management. Improving the quality of care also means that providers must recognize that patients largely manage their chronic illnesses themselves.

These points seem very close to what the current healthcare reform is doing. I think this is remarkable. What do you think?

-aj