Declaring the healthcare system "hopelessly broken," lawmakers in Trenton are advancing legislation that would provide financial rewards to doctors, hospitals and insurance companies for preventing and controlling illnesses — rather than just treating them — in New Jersey's poorest communities. In short, the effort is based on the old proverb: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In this case, supporters say, it's worth millions in health care costs. The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee last week unanimously approved a bill that would enable five groups of medical professionals and managed care companies that treat at least 5,000 Medicaid patients to form an "accountable care organization" — one of the latest buzzwords contained in the federal health care reform law.
