Since assuming my role at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), I have learned how important it is for every specialty to engage with the organization to advance the “value-based” approach to care, improve quality and safety, and ensure equitable access. Based on this perspective, let me identify some key issues related to the future of health care, health policy, financing, and quality that will impact anesthesia practices over the next decade.
A number of recent events, including the COVID pandemic and Black Lives Matter movement have raised awareness of health inequities for marginalized populations in this country and, as a result, have altered the course of health care delivery and health care policy. There is now clear direction from the federal government that ensuring high-quality health care for all is a priority. While the focus has increased considerably, the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act...
