Co-chaired by NAM President Victor J. Dzau and Mark McClellan, director of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy, and guided by an 18-member bipartisan steering committee, the foundational Vital Directions for Health and Health Care effort drew on more than 150 experts  from across the country who authored expert, peer-reviewed papers with policy recommendations in 19 key areas important to three areas: better health and well-being, high-value health care, and strong science and technology. In addition, the Journal of the American Medical Association published summaries (or “Viewpoints”) of each paper.

The 2017 capstone publication, containing the Steering Committee’s synthesis along with the 19 discussion papers, presents a vision of an optimized health system together with a streamlined framework—built on a core set of eight strategic action priorities and essential infrastructure needs identified by the Vital Directions Steering Committee. Included are four action priorities—pay for value, empower people, activate communities, and connect care—that represent direct and strategic opportunities to advance a more efficient, equitable, and patient- and community-focused health system. Four essential infrastructure needs—measure what matters most, modernize skills, accelerate real-world evidence, and advance science—represent foundational elements for future progress.

As the nation continues to face growing challenges in health and health care—such as inequitable access and quality of care and increased spending—this framework provides expert guidance on many issues that continue to plague the United States, and can be used by decision-makers in implementing policy that addresses these concerns.