The Commonwealth Fund released a brief examining a survey of opinion leaders in health policy and innovators in health care delivery and finance, which found that 90 percent of respondents believe the national health care reform legislation will expand access to affordable health insurance coverage.  The brief highlights obstacles to implementation highlighted by the respondents, the aspects of the law that they support, and the areas they believe need to be readdressed.

From the report: Nearly nine of 10 leaders in health care and health care policy believe the comprehensive health reform legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama will successfully expand access to affordable health insurance coverage, the latest Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Health Care Opinion Leaders Survey finds. Virtually all of the key features of the health reform law—including income-related subsidies, new insurance market rules, and innovative payment methods—are supported by an overwhelming majority of opinion leaders. Looking toward implementation, respon-dents identified the nation’s supply of primary care providers, states’ capacity to implement reform, and enforcement of the individual mandate as areas of potential concern. Longer term, opinion leaders believe that improved affordability provisions for low- and moderate income families, prevention and control of chronic disease, and stronger cost controls are the most important issues to be readdressed in the next two to three years.

Full report:  Health Care Opinion Leaders’ Views on Health Reform, Implementation, and Post-Reform Priorities (PDF | 1.58 MB)

The Commonwealth Fund.  (2010).   Health care opinion leaders’ views on health reform, implementation, and post-reform priorities.  Davis, K., Nuzum, R. and Stremkis, K.