Naperville Sun:
Health care officals cheer ruling; local GOP leaders disappointed
By Susan Frick Carlman
June 28, 2012
Reactions were strong in the Naperville area among health care leaders and politicians following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision Thursday to uphold the centerpiece of President Barack Obama’s Patient Protection and Affordable Care of 2009.
Although some pieces of the law already are in place, such as coverage for children up to age 26 and an assurance of insured medical care for children and others who have pre-existing conditions, Edward Hospital in Naperville is poised to put the remaining elements into place.
In a statement released Thursday afternoon, Edward Hospital CEO Pam Davis said the Naperville medical center is addressing the requirements of the law already, through partnerships with doctors and the DuPage Medical Group.
According to Edward vice president Brian Davis, that means sharing best practices, treatment protocols and certain administrative expenses, and measuring care quality jointly.
“Health care reform calls on hospitals to be more effective and efficient in how we deliver health care. There’s going to be more insured patients out there, but there’s going to be tremendous pressure on payment for services,” he said.
The managed-care partnership links the city’s largest employer with the region’s largest medical group.
“A few years ago, there were a lot of hurdles and regulations that would not have allowed us to partner with DuPage Medical Group like we are,” Brian Davis said. “But health care reform is allowing us to partner with our independent physicians and DuPage Medical Group.”
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