By Jennifer Haberkorn

The New Democrat Coalition says it plans to pursue health IT, new payment reforms and delivery models and FDA reforms in 2012 — issues that could align it closely with priorities of the health industry.

The group of centrist House Democrats plans to release a white paper Friday outlining its policy priorities. The paper, obtained by POLITICO, spells out a set of broad goals that won't get a lot of arguments: a new Medicare payment system that rewards quality, new delivery models that increase efficiency, an FDA approval process that moves more quickly and widespread adoption of health IT systems.

The issues have traditionally gotten at least some bipartisan support, but the practical details could prove to be divisive down the road. While the existing Sustainable Growth Rate is universally panned, there is little agreement on what should replace it. While the use of health IT has wide support, some Republicans have suggested the stimulus bill provided too much money for it.

On the Sustainable Growth Rate, the group will call for a replacement that includes a choice of several payment models that address needs of different providers and populations across the country. They support a gradual phase-out of the old formula and a transition period with testing of models by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation.

Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.), co-chair of the New Democrat Coalition's Health Care Task Force, said the goal is “to get a better value for our dollars … and to incentivize some of the innovative sectors to work with all parts of our health care system.”

The most pressing issue, however, may be the reauthorizations of the Medical Device User Fee Act and the Prescription Drug User Fee Act laws, both of which expire on Oct. 1, 2012. The principles call for funding and resources for FDA to be able to “keep pace with an industry defined by rapid changes within increasingly complex science.”

Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.), the task force co-chairman, said the deadline may prove helpful in passing new health policy — something that really hasn’t happened on Capitol Hill since the health care reform law eliminated any chance of bipartisan cooperation in the area.

“There’s some pretty intense reasons for us to move forward,” Schrader said. “We can’t avoid it and that’s good. I think we’ll lay a foundation of how to move forward this year.”