Sebelius: Health law has slowed growth in medical costs

{mosads}In a blog post Thursday, Sebelius credited the Affordable Care Act with helping to improve efficiency and slow down cost growth. She cited a USA Today study that says the law’s cost-control measures are working.

“The health care law’s push for coordinated care and paying for quality rather than quantity is putting downward pressure on medical costs, the article reports,” Sebelius wrote. “It’s improving the way health care providers do business, and that’s good news for patients.”

The healthcare law includes outright reductions in Medicare payments as well as new initiatives that aim to realign the system away from paying for quantity and toward rewarding doctors who keep their patients healthy.

“The Affordable Care Act is driving down costs and improving quality, which will have long-term benefits for our economy and our health,” Sebelius wrote.