Cantwell Applauds Administration's Work on Health Care Delivery System Reform, Urges Secretary Burwell to Build on Washington State's Success

Press Release

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, today applauded the Obama Administration and Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell for their efforts to improve the quality of health care and reduce costs.

At a roundtable discussion today, Senator Cantwell urged Secretary Burwell to use Washington state's high-performing health care delivery system as a model to reform the Medicare program to focus on the value, not the volume, of health care services.

HHS announced today $685 million in grants to improve health care delivery systems including $5.5 million to the University of Washington and $4 million to the Washington state Department of Health. The grants will enable clinicians to improve quality and make health care information more accessible to patients.

"Washington state health care providers are efficient and innovative. Today's grants are a step forward in putting efficient, patient-focused care first. As the Administration implements new reforms, I will continue to fight for strong payment incentives that reward leaders like Washington state," said Senator Cantwell.

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