Douglas Backstrom

Safety net providers will play a central role in providing medical services to vulnerable patients, according to participants in the 26th installment of the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Opinion Leaders survey, which focused on vulnerable populations.

Many healthcare leaders in the most recent Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Opinion Leaders survey urged a stronger federal role and less state flexibility as regulators continue issuing the myriad rules required to implement the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

A majority of healthcare leaders support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, but they say the reform law still needs work, according to the 24th installment of the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Opinion Leaders survey, which examined the health policy priorities for the new 112th Congress.

A standardized payment structure may be one way to help curb ever-rising healthcare costs, according to participants in the 23rd installment of the Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Opinion Leaders survey, which examined transparency and pricing in the healthcare system.