NU Online News Service, March 9, 2004, 1:42 p.m. EST, Washington – The biggest U.S. health insurance trade group will be calling itself "America's Health Insurance Plans."[@@]
The Washington-based group that was temporarily known as AAHP-HIAA also unveiled a new, "integrated" health care reform policy initiative that will combine a focus on the quality of care and on access as well as on price.
The initiative represents "a new way of thinking about how to improve health care," says AHIP President Karen Ignagni. "The more we work on these issues, the more we understand that the priorities of quality, access and affordability are closely interrelated, and that progress in one area can yield significant results elsewhere."
The American Association of Health Plans, Washington, and the Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, formed the group now known as AHIP by merging in 2003.
Ignagni spoke at a press briefing announcing the group's new name and new policy agenda.
AHIP is not pursuing specific legislation at this time because legislating takes a multiyear effort, Ignagni says.
Instead, Ignagni says, AHIP wants to discuss its policy initiative with as many stakeholders as possible to develop partnerships aimed at achieving reform.