Health Costs And Financing: Challenges And Strategies For A New Administration

It is likely that 2021 will be a dynamic year for US health care policy. There is pressing need and opportunity for health reform that helps achieve better access, affordability, and equity. In this commentary, which is part of the National Academy of Medicine's Vital Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative, we draw on our collective backgrounds in health financing, delivery, and innovation to offer consensus-based policy recommendations focused on health costs and financing. We organize our recommendations around five policy priorities: expanding insurance coverage, accelerating the transition to value-based care, advancing home-based care, improving the affordability of drugs and other therapeutics, and developing a high-value workforce. Within each priority we provide recommendations for key elected officials and political appointees that could be used as starting points for evidence-based policy making that supports a more effective, efficient, and equitable health system in the US.

Automated summary

2021 is expected to be a significant year for US healthcare policy, with a focus on healthcare costs and financing. Policy recommendations include expanding insurance coverage, accelerating the transition to value-based care, advancing home-based care, improving drug affordability, and developing a high-value healthcare workforce to support a more effective, efficient, and equitable healthcare system in the US.