HEALTH CARE REFORM BILL - H.R. 3590 - PATIENT PROTECTION & AFFORDABLE CARE ACT (PDF)

 

           
As we continue to read the 2,074 pages of this Act (H.R. 3590) to better understand what the government’s plan will expect of medical institutions in the quest to reduce health care costs, we will update the information below.

Note:  We are using PPACA is an acronym for ‘Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act’
            We refer to ‘The Wright Face & Tracheostomy Nebulizing Mask’ delivery system as
            ‘the Wright Mask’

pg 26  Sec. 2717 - ENSURING THE QUALITY OF CARE

Within 2 years after enactment of the PPACA HHS will develop reporting requirements for use  in reimbursement that:

Improve health outcomes through implementation of activities.

These implemented activities include, but are not limited to:

1. Effective case management The Wright Face & Tracheostomy Nebulizing Mask delivery system (‘the Wright Mask’) is an effective tool for effective case management
2. Care coordination The Wright Mask saves clinician time, making care coordination easier
3. Chronic disease management The Wright Mask was invented for chronic disease management
4. Care compliance initiatives The Wright Mask initiates patient compliance
5. Medical homes model (defined in PPACA Section 3602) The Wright Mask is the perfect tool for patient home use

Implement activities to prevent hospital readmissions:

1. Patient-centered education through hospital discharge program The Wright Mask supports patient-centered education since patient & caregivers are compliant when educated about respiratory treatment using the Wright Mask
2. Post discharge reinforcement The Wright Mask supports post discharge reinforcement & encouragement
3. Implement wellness & health promotion activities The Wright Mask was invented to improve wellness, quality of life & promote a healthier, more comfortable patient

 

pg 30 Sec. 2718 - BRINGING DOWN THE COST OF HEALTH - CARE COVERAGE

Health insurance issuers will be required to submit to the Secretary (HHS) a report that includes the total premium revenue that coverage expends for activities that:

1. Improve health care quality The Wright Mask improves health care quality

Each year, each hospital operating within the U.S. must make public a list of the hospital‘s standard charges for items and services provided by the hospital.

That means those hospitals that use the Wright Mask and encourage their discharged trached patients to use the Wright Mask, will list their cost of services that were provided to (Wright Mask) humidified tracheotomy patients. The cost of services will be significantly lowered because their tracheotomy patients’ PPC issues will decrease by the use of the Wright Mask. Readmissions for PPC issues will also decrease.

For those facilities that do not use the Wright Mask their services for dealing with readmitted tracheostomy patients with PPCs (potentially preventable complications) will be significantly high (compared to their competition who utilize the Wright Mask). 

pg 764 Sec. 3024 - INDEPENDENCE AT HOME - DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM

HHS will conduct a demonstration program. This program will test a payment incentive & service delivery model that utilizes physician & nurse practitioner directed home-based primary care teams. Designed to reduce costs & improve health outcomes of items and services this model will be accountable for providing comprehensive, coordinated, continuous & accessible care to high-need populations at home & coordinate health care across all treatment settings (including tracheotomy treatments) resulting in:

1. Reducing preventable hospitalizations - a main goal of the Wright Mask
2. Preventing hospital readmissions - a main goal of the Wright Mask
3. Reducing emergency room visits  - a main goal of the Wright Mask
4. Improving health outcomes commensurate with the beneficiaries’ stage of chronic illness - a main goal of the Wright Mask
5. Improving efficiency of care - a main goal of the Wright Mask
6. Reducing the cost of health care services - a main goal of the Wright Mask
7. Achieving beneficiary & family caregiver satisfaction - a main goal of the Wright Mask

INDEPENDENCE AT HOME MEDICAL PRACTICE  (defined as a legal entity made of a physician or nurse practitioner or group of physicians and nurse practitioners that provide care as part of a team. The team also includes: Pharmacists, other health & social services staff who have experience providing home-based primary care, make in-home visits & are available 24/7 to carry out plans of care that are tailored to the (high-cost chronically ill patient’s chronic conditions & designed to achieve results (noted above).

The Wright Mask was invented by a caregiver/loved one for a tracheostomy patient‘s home use.
Tracheostomy patients are considered by Otolaryngologists, Respiratory Therapists, Nurses and clinicians as high-risk patients for PPCs (potentially preventable complications). This patient population is also considered high risk for chronic illness & chronic PPCs.

pg 775  Sec. 3025 - HOSPITAL READMISSIONS REDUCTION - PROGRAM

HHS will reduce payments for discharges (beginning October 1, 2012) to hospitals that have excess readmissions.  - The Wright Mask is used to reduce PPCs.  Trached patients free of PPCs are healthier and more comfortable. Thus the need for excessive readmissions are reduced.
 

pg 1053 Sec. 3501 - HEALTH CARE QUALITY IMPROVEMENT - PROGRAMS

HHS will identify, develop, evaluate, disseminate & provide training in innovative methodologies and strategies for quality improvement practices in the delivery of health care services that represent best practices in health care quality, safety and value. - Simultaneous humidification of the Upper Airway and Tracheostomy with the Wright Mask represents the best moisturizing practice in respiratory health care quality, safety and value. 

HHS will conduct or support activities for best practices for quality improvement practices in the delivery of health care services, and that include changes in processes of care & the redesign of systems used by providers that will result in intended health outcomes, improve patient safety -  As providers contemplate how to enhance their  ‘quality improvement practices’ for tracheotomy patients, ‘Quality and Improvement’ begin with the inclusion of the Wright Mask in their process of care. Processes that include the Wright Mask will result in intended health outcomes.

HHS will identify providers that deliver consistently high-quality, efficient health care services, employ best practices, assess what methodologies are most effective in improving health care delivery, translating that information rapidly & effectively into practice. - Providers presently adapting their processes to include the Wright Mask will, over the next two years, will document the sustainability of improvements and have a structured review of empirical evidence.

HHS will support through a contract (or other means), research on health care delivery system improvement & development of tools to facilitate adoption of best practices that improve the quality, safety and efficiency of health care delivery services.  - As an integral tool to facilitate adoption of best practices, the Wright Mask will improve quality, safety & efficiency of health care delivery services.
 
HHS will be looking at practical methods for:

1. addressing health care associated infections
2. reducing preventable hospital admissions

The Wright Mask humidifies the upper airway & tracheotomy to reduce thick, sticky mucus which can develop into airway infection and pneumonia.

 

 

 

 

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