HR Policy Member Company Testifies on Reducing Health Care Costs Through Innovation

Federal Health Care Reform, Transparency, Quality and Cost Containment

Dr. Jonathan Perlin, Chief Medical Officer at HCA Healthcare, told members of the Senate HELP Committee what health care providers are doing to increase value, quality, and safety, and to reduce costs.

Reducing avoidable hospital-acquired infections:  Dr. Perlin discussed how HCA’s innovations reduced such infections to one-third lower than expected and could save $170,000 per 1,000 patients.

Using big data to accurately identify patients with sepsis by monitoring labs 24x7x365 has saved more than 5,500 lives.

Increasing the use of generic drugs in partnership with other health care providers to lower costs and create more predictable supplies of essential generic medications.

Going forward, Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chair of the Senate HELP Committee, said he plans to take what they’ve learned from the five hearings that have been held, and ask employers, insurers, health care providers, and state regulators for specific ideas on how the federal government can reduce the cost of health care.