What is Healthcare Reform?
On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). One week later, the President signed the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 that modified PPACA through the Congressional “reconciliation” process. Intended to expand healthcare coverage and improve healthcare delivery while reducing the federal budget deficit, these two Acts1 set in motion significant changes to the United States healthcare system.
PPACA will have an immediate and direct impact on healthcare activities across stakeholders in the US healthcare system. Other changes will occur over time with broad implications for how healthcare is delivered, covered, and reimbursed. Numerous changes under PPACA will require further guidance and interpretation from various federal agencies.
What does Healthcare Reform Implementation Mean for AstraZeneca?
AstraZeneca’s support for comprehensive healthcare reform was and remains grounded in the belief that every American should have affordable health insurance and prescription drug coverage. To achieve this, AstraZeneca was – and continues to be – guided by the belief that any healthcare reform plan would meet four (4) key principles:
- Promote market competition that leads to improved health outcomes;
- Ensure that patient safety is maintained and enhanced;
- Expand coverage for the uninsured; and
- Foster and reward innovation and provide protection for intellectual property.
AstraZeneca believes that comprehensive healthcare reform as embodied by PPACA is consistent with our principles and will enable us to continue to innovate and remain competitive in a global marketplace.
What’s Next?
AstraZeneca believes it is equally important to prepare for what is expected to happen as well as for any potential unintended consequences. AstraZeneca’s engagement in the implementation process –whether through interactions with policymakers and regulators or through communications with our commercial customers – will demonstrate our commitment to patients, innovation, and to a market-based system that helps foster the discovery and development of new medicines.
Reference
1. For purposes of this memorandum, “PPACA” and “the Act” will refer to the version of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act.
