Comments on: From the Horse’s Mouth

By: C YNGVE

C YNGVE — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 03:49:07 +0000

I AM A RETIRED NURSE, I THOUROUGHLY UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR ELECTRONIC MEDICAL RECORDS AND THE END OF LIFE PLANNING THAT ALLOWS A PATIENTS TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR CARE ACCORDING TO THEIR WISHES, AND THEIR ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES IN THE TYPE OF CARE THEY WISH TO RECEIVE. I PAID FOR THIS SERVICE ON THE INTERNET, OBAMA’S PLAN ALLOWS FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR AN OTHERWISE OUT OF POCKET FEE!
YOU ARE DELIVERING MISINFORMATION FROM THE OTHER END OF THE HORSE, WHICH I FIND STUPID IF YOU REALLY HAVE THAT INTERPRETATION, AND DESPICALBE IF YOU ARE INTENTIONALLY UNDERMINING HEALTH CARE REFORM BY LYING!

By: Thron

Thron — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:12:28 +0000

In response to Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel position to blame physicians for “overuse.” True there are abuses but what would physician behavior be if they were paid for excellence rather than underpaid. In North Carolina Medicaid in 2006 paid all physicians more for excellence and inspired health care professionals saved 11% over 2005 when physicians were underpaid. The American Academy of Family Physicians reported that this pay-now-save-later policy gave physicians the financial resources to better manage and coordinate patient care on an ongoing basis resulting in fewer ER visits and hospitalizations reducing unnecessary medical costs.

If the nation wants physicians to remain true to the Hippocratic Oath, let’s make sure society is paying them fairly to meet their oath and have reasonable means to address when they fail. Right now failure pays and excellence is underpaid and that is the consequence of government “squeezing” provider payments that Dr. Blumenthal is married to.

By: Thron

Thron — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:02:24 +0000

In response to Dr. Blumenthal’s position on putting government control on steroids to push down health care costs. We only have to look to the long term care industry to find decades of federal regulations on steroids full of “best practice” mandates, squeezing provider payments, imprisonment and fines for failure, annual inspections, unannounced inspections, hot lines for abuse, etc. have neither improved the quality of care or costs if prevented medical errors sent off to hospitals for care are added into total costs. And all these patients are in a controlled environment where diet, exercise, preventive care, smoking, etc. are under government manadates. Plus, ever since DRGs, CMS has been “squeezing” provider payments for excellence while rewarding “inefficient and mediocre care” hoping the revenue pain would inspire hospitals to pursue efficiencies. It did not work then and it will not work by intensifying the “squeeze” on providers. Anyone that calls Blumenthal’s comment’s as “sensible,much more logical and more sound” needs a reality check as does the Obama administration.

By: Dew

Dew — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:36:14 +0000

On Overproviding to the Healthy and Underproviding to the Sick:

In response to Nancy-Ann De Parie’s comment (“..system of keeping people well, rather than treating the sickness”) — there are many children with numerous types of cancers and other forms of illness’s that had noting to do with “how healthy” they were “before” being stricken with a terrible illness.

In response to Dr. Blumenthal comment– this comment is more sensible, much more logical and more sound.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 20:09:34 +0000

Michael Willy’s blog is interestng and thought provoking.

Is it possilbe to cut health care cost without cutting the quality of health care provided– no.

Of the total number of “uninsured Americans” we hear about — a percentage of this number is made up of people who CAN afford health insurance, but simply chose not to carry it.

Universal Health Care, Socialized Medicine, or whatever ones wants to call it, does not work and has not proven to provide quality health care for ALL the people. Of course, if the Doctors have “private clinics” as in Canada– a person could go to a “private clinic” and totally pay out of pocket for needed health care, tests and surgery that could save their life. Would this mean only the very wealth, who can paid, would continue to get quality health care? In turn, would this mean the majority of Americans would be left with substandard health care? Would it be true that if “private clinics” (only affordable to the very wealth are established) — the Doctors are making money and, though taxes, the goverment is making money? What about the rest of ALL Americans? Would we be left with substandard healh care?

By: Michael Willy

Michael Willy — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:23:15 +0000

What you will never hear
“If the changes does not work, we’ll revert back to what we had before.” Why not? Because, this is not a discusion about healthcare. Doctor and only doctors do healthcare.
Everyone else collects premiums, pays bills, provides supporting services or is a politician propogandizing, without a shred of experience about another group’s discipline.

Why?
This discussion is about confiscating premiums collected by private insurers. However, unlike private insurers who must hold funds in escrow, government spends whatever it collects, then borrows against revenue stream as collateral. Until so indebted no country will front them the money.

By: Jack C.

Jack C. — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 21:27:33 +0000

I have tried to get from Washington (Sen. Coryn’s office)the annual cost of “administering” the Medicare system at the government level. I suspect you have this data. We have had to match at least that cost in the private sector just to comply. Have you considered this as a key cost (waste) to emphasize to Congress, your subscribers and to the press? Is there any way we can help?

Grateful for what you do.

By: Stephen C.

Stephen C. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:31:09 +0000

Orszag, Emanuel, and now even the president have admitted that preventive medicine, EMRs, evidence-based care, etc., will only put a small dent in health care costs. The only thing that works, in their opinion, is telling doctors how to practice medicine.

By: Joe S.

Joe S. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 14:19:40 +0000

The mainstream media has totally missed this story.

By: Tom H.

Tom H. — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:40:01 +0000

Very scary.