While American politicians such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., have called for the U.S. healthcare system to take cues from the Canadian system, Canadian healthcare experts have praised the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, according to NPR.
The center, which was created under the ACA, is meant to foster experimentation for new payment and reimbursement models. It receives $10 billion every decade and sponsors experiments that could move the U.S. toward a value-based system.
"There have been some good efforts — they have tried more things than we have," said Kaveh Shojania, MD, an internist at the University of Toronto, according to NPR.
While Canadians have praised the center's innovative efforts, CMS Administrator Seema Verma said that the CMMI will move in a new direction. Under Ms. Verma, the center will focus on increasing market competition and making the insurance-purchasing process easier.