Health organizations, including the AMA, have been meeting to discuss and identify key issues needed for health care reform.

As a result of those meetings, the groups have released a joint report entitled “A Dialogue on U.S. Health Reform.” The document provides recommendations for steps that can be taken to increase coverage and access, strengthen wellness and prevention, and ensure quality and value.

Specific recommendations include:

• Improve Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) outreach and enrollment.
• Provide federal funding to the states for expanding Medicaid.
• Provide subsidies for small businesses to provide health insurance for their employees.
• Provide advanceable, refundable tax credits or other subsidies on a sliding scale for individuals and families to purchase adequate and affordable coverage, including preventive services.
• Ensure adequate payment to clinicians and providers by public programs to assure access to care.
• Develop infrastructure to close gaps in quality and outcomes.
• Reduce administrative costs.
• Ensure an adequate health care delivery workforce, including funding for training and loan forgiveness programs and payment reforms directed at primary care, public health and nursing, and other high priority areas facing imminent shortages.

Visit here to download the report.