As it rings in the sixth anniversary of the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the White House will outline the "next chapter" of healthcare reform in a week-long series of events, looking beyond the law's main issues of access and affordability, according to The Hill.
HHS Secretary Sylvia Matthews Burwell aims to "broaden the conversation" surrounding the ACA to emphasize systemwide initiatives to lower costs and improve quality, such as delivery system reform and bundled payments, which have garnered bipartisan supports in Congress.
"It's important to lay out the next chapter in the [Affordable Care Act] — building a healthcare system that puts patients at the center and works better for all Americans," a senior administration official told The Hill.
The White House's decision to focus attention on less controversial and divisive aspects of the law could help Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton gain supporters, as she has focused her healthcare stance on keeping the ACA and improving its weak points.