A campaign adviser for Mitt Romney has said the Republican presidential candidate would likely keep accountable care organizations and other delivery reforms despite his plans to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act if elected, according to a Law360 report.
Thomas Barker, former HHS general counsel under President George W. Bush and campaign adviser to Mr. Romney, said Medicare and delivery system reforms included in the PPACA "potentially have merit" and system reform would be a centerpiece in a GOP repeal and replace bill.
"If the ACA survives, the better way to divorce politics [from Medicare spending] is through delivery system reforms," said Mr. Barker, according to the report.
Mr. Barker said provisions such as coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and allowing adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26 — both tenets commonly touted by the Obama administration — are "superficial." The GOP adviser said Mr. Romney would also focus on ending the "tax discrimination" of employers receiving tax breaks when they purchase insurance, but not extending that same benefit to individuals buying coverage.
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Thomas Barker, former HHS general counsel under President George W. Bush and campaign adviser to Mr. Romney, said Medicare and delivery system reforms included in the PPACA "potentially have merit" and system reform would be a centerpiece in a GOP repeal and replace bill.
"If the ACA survives, the better way to divorce politics [from Medicare spending] is through delivery system reforms," said Mr. Barker, according to the report.
Mr. Barker said provisions such as coverage for those with pre-existing conditions and allowing adults to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26 — both tenets commonly touted by the Obama administration — are "superficial." The GOP adviser said Mr. Romney would also focus on ending the "tax discrimination" of employers receiving tax breaks when they purchase insurance, but not extending that same benefit to individuals buying coverage.
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