Four Reasons for Optimism About the Future of Healthcare

There are other positive signs in the reform legislation: Primary care payment increases are being proposed, as are incentives for advanced medical homes and other projects that reward coordination and quality. Progress is being made outside of Washington, as well. Private payers are taking initiative with payment demonstration projects, and pay-for-performance programs are slowly moving beyond merely paying for reporting.

4. Leadership makes a difference. Today and tomorrow I'll be in Chicago with some of my HealthLeaders Media colleagues who are presenting this year's Top Leadership Teams in Healthcare awards. Winners come from a wide range of settings—from large hospitals to medical groups—but each demonstrates that the obstacles of today's healthcare system can be overcome.

There is a lot of defeatism about the healthcare environment, but providers' fates are still largely in their own hands.