New England Cable News attended the 7th Annual World Health Care Congress Health Care Quality and Payment Reform Congress and interviewed several speakers, including Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen about the role of reform in health care.

---

The 7th Annual Health Care Quality & Payment Reform Congress convenes action-oriented executives dedicated to advancing the Nation's quality agenda through system-wide health care reform. Data-driven case studies and forward-thinking strategies combine to address the obstacles and opportunities impacting the five key pillars that support and define high-quality health care, including Performance Measurement and Reimbursement, Patient Safety, Care Management, Transparency and Efficiency. As the only quality event featuring perspectives from 80+ of today's most prominent speakers, the 2009 Congress leads the nation in developing solutions that achieve and reward for quality improvements across all industry sectors.

• 80+ Industry Thought Leaders providing strategic insight into the realities and trends impacting quality improvement initiatives and shaping the health reform agenda
• A Deep-Dive into Health Care Reform with thought-leaders on the front-line of the Congressional discussions and debates
• 20+ Data-Driven Case Studies highlighting the critical steps for providers and health plans to align incentives, optimize reimbursement and deliver high-value health care
• Market-Driven Summits and Seminars for Action-Oriented Executives looking to develop strategic plans that meet and achieve the goals set forth by their organizations
• Unlimited Networking Opportunities to promote idea exchange and encourage interaction amongst industry stakeholders

• Performance Measurement and Reimbursement: pay-for-performance, bundled payments, quality contracts, hospital-physician alignment, physician culture, clinical informatics and technology integration
• Patient Safety and Error Reduction: care process redesign, documentation strategies to avoid "never events", quality checklists, transitions of care and the role of Patient Safety Organizations
• Care Management and Coordination: Patient Centered Medical Home, care coordination, gaps in population management, patient and family engagement, group medical visits and state pilots to support primary care
• Public Reporting and Transparency: data validity and attribution, physician self reporting, consumer engagement and incentive programs, data exchanges, and online reporting tools
• Efficient and Cost-Effective Care Models: efficiency measures, reducing waste to maximize value, overutilization and appropriate care, cost management strategies, lean methodologies, and technology solutions to streamline processes

"The cost of health care continues to be a real and pressing concern. Making sure we are paying for high quality health-care services, not just the number of services provided is just one of the most critical issues facing the American public and the federal government now and in the future."

- Kerry Weems, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, US Department of Health and Human Services