What legislation links reimbursement for hospitals and providers to high-quality, coordinated care?

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) plays a pivotal role in linking reimbursement for hospitals and providers to high-quality, coordinated care. Introduced in 2010, the ACA aimed to improve healthcare quality, increase access to care, and reduce overall costs. It introduced various mechanisms to incentivize healthcare providers to deliver better coordinated and patient-centered care rather than solely focusing on the volume of services provided.

One of the ACA's significant contributions is the implementation of accountable care organizations (ACOs) and value-based payment models. These initiatives encourage healthcare systems to work collaboratively, considering patient outcomes and efficiency, thus fostering an environment where providers are rewarded for the quality of care rather than the quantity of services rendered. The overarching goal is to enhance patient care while managing healthcare spending, making it a crucial piece of legislation for advancing high-quality healthcare in the United States.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of healthcare legislation: HIPAA primarily deals with the privacy and security of health information, MACRA updates payment models for Medicare providers, and COBRA ensures continued health insurance coverage under certain circumstances, none of which directly link reimbursement to high-quality and coordinated care in the same comprehensive manner as the ACA.