2005 West Virginia Code - §16-29H-4. — Benchmarks and schedule.

§16-29H-4. Benchmarks and schedule.
(a) On or before the first day of January, two thousand seven and each year thereafter, the council shall recommend to the Legislative Commission on Health and Human Resources Accountability those strategies that could move the state toward the goals established in this article.
(b) Prior to making recommendations the council shall find that the appropriate benchmarks for the strategy being recommended have been met:
(1) Financing necessary to support the recommendations is cost-neutral or less expensive with respect to the health care system and will not require more money than is projected to be spent in the existing system by West Virginia employers and individuals through taxes, premiums, and out-of-pocket expenses;
(2) Administrative bureaucracy and costs will decrease as a percentage of total health care spending;
(3) Quality of care will be improved; and
(4) The future costs of health care will be less than the current growth rate, or the resources will be allocated in a manner that is more efficient and cost-effective, based on progress in implementing the following cost containment measures:
(A) Payment system to hospitals;
(B) Increased consumer access to health care price and quality information;
(C) Promotion of self-care and healthy lifestyles;
(D) Enhanced prescription drug initiatives developed in cooperation with the pharmaceutical advocate;
(E) Funding of chronic care initiatives;
(F) Investments in health information technology;
(G) Alignment of health care professional reimbursement with best practices and outcomes rather than utilization; and
(H) The creation of additional federally qualified health centers (FQHC) or FQHC look-alikes if data supports this effort and the federal government so approves.
(c) Recommendations to the Legislature shall include an assessment of the cost savings or the reallocation of resources, increased access, improvements in quality and delivery, administrative simplification, fairness and equity in financing, continuity of coverage, and financial sustainability.