Comments on: Rationing Seniors’ Health Care http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/ Health Care Policy and Reform Insights | NCPA Fri, 25 May 2012 03:28:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Family and General Practice in New Jersey http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-79280 Family and General Practice in New Jersey Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:54:37 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-79280 Option 1 would be a killer. Higher education inflation is the only thing that has exceeded health care inflation in recent times. Hooking the baby boomers into that would be political suicide. You are right when you say you are the only think tank looking at options. Keep up the good work. Option 1 would be a killer. Higher education inflation is the only thing that has exceeded health care inflation in recent times. Hooking the baby boomers into that would be political suicide.

You are right when you say you are the only think tank looking at options. Keep up the good work.

]]> By: Max http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-30866 Max Wed, 30 Jan 2008 04:02:30 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-30866 Hi - just wanted to say good design and blog . Hi – just wanted to say good design and blog .

]]> By: Michael King http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-29277 Michael King Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:06:23 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-29277 I believe the key to quality healthcare is in choosing the right plan. While the healthcare system does need improvement if Americans take the time to research and find the right plan it can at least be manafeable. The Medicare system is getting better also. There are many more options these days for medicare insurance. I think it all depends on making wise decisions I believe the key to quality healthcare is in choosing the right plan. While the healthcare system does need improvement if Americans take the time to research and find the right plan it can at least be manafeable. The Medicare system is getting better also. There are many more options these days for medicare insurance. I think it all depends on making wise decisions

]]> By: Charles Akins http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12146 Charles Akins Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:52:09 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12146 The only person who can solve our health care crisis is Adam Smith and his golden hand of self-interest. Cosmetic plastic surgery and refractive (LASIC) eye surgery have improved in quality and fallen in price. These procedures are controlled by the free market. The same changes would occur if the free market was allowed to work its magic on other areas of medicine. The only person who can solve our health care crisis is Adam Smith and his golden hand of self-interest.
Cosmetic plastic surgery and refractive (LASIC) eye surgery have improved in quality and fallen in price. These procedures are controlled by the free market. The same changes would occur if the free market was allowed to work its magic on other areas of medicine.

]]> By: Roger Beauchamp http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12101 Roger Beauchamp Thu, 19 Jul 2007 18:28:20 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12101 I believe society, as a whole, would benefit by indexing the number of dollars that can be excluded to the CPI, rather than health care inflation. Since Medicare is financially unsustainable, seniors should be permitted to voluntarily exclude money for health care needs in a Health Financing Account. This would treat them the same as all other citizens. My feeling is that Medicare would evolve into more of a hospitalization program, with the majority of our citizens maintaining control over the choice of their doctor and the services they choose to receive. I am no expert on Medicare. I do think about what principles treat all citizens as fairly as possible to get the best value for the health care dollar. I believe society, as a whole, would benefit by indexing the number of dollars that can be excluded to the CPI, rather than health care inflation. Since Medicare is financially unsustainable, seniors should be permitted to voluntarily exclude money for health care needs in a Health Financing Account. This would treat them the same as all other citizens. My feeling is that Medicare would evolve into more of a hospitalization program, with the majority of our citizens maintaining control over the choice of their doctor and the services they choose to receive. I am no expert on Medicare. I do think about what principles treat all citizens as fairly as possible to get the best value for the health care dollar.

]]> By: Pat King http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12083 Pat King Thu, 19 Jul 2007 11:09:33 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12083 I think that definitely we need more incentives for seniors (and all of us) to seek out good value in health care, more price and quality data, and incentives for healthy lifestyle choices and the appropriate preventive care. But in my opinion, these measures alone won't solve the problem unless we also face up to the horrible "R" word at some point. We all know that a high percentage of Medicare expenditures occur in the last 6 months of life. We've been unwilling as a society to accept the idea that there has to be a limit on expensive but medically futile care. I think that definitely we need more incentives for seniors (and all of us) to seek out good value in health care, more price and quality data, and incentives for healthy lifestyle choices and the appropriate preventive care. But in my opinion, these measures alone won’t solve the problem unless we also face up to the horrible “R” word at some point. We all know that a high percentage of Medicare expenditures occur in the last 6 months of life. We’ve been unwilling as a society to accept the idea that there has to be a limit on expensive but medically futile care.

]]> By: John Goodman http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12042 John Goodman Wed, 18 Jul 2007 21:00:34 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12042 Mark Pauly reminds us the first plan is something he originally proposed in Health Affairs a few years ago to, in his words, "thundering silence." Mark Pauly reminds us the first plan is something he originally proposed in Health Affairs a few years ago to, in his words, “thundering silence.”

]]> By: Lawrence Becker http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12041 Lawrence Becker Wed, 18 Jul 2007 20:58:10 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12041 We need to push HARD for data both on quality and price - so it is apparent to all what they are paying for AND what they are getting. I believe that once people understand what they are paying for they will demand more value from every transaction and not more services. If Wennberg and Fisher are even close to right, that's a 30% reduction in spending - I've seen recent estimates of up to 50% savings. But without data and measures, healthcare is like bowling with a black curtain in front of the pins. We need to push HARD for data both on quality and price – so it is apparent to all what they are paying for AND what they are getting. I believe that once people understand what they are paying for they will demand more value from every transaction and not more services. If Wennberg and Fisher are even close to right, that’s a 30% reduction in spending – I’ve seen recent estimates of up to 50% savings. But without data and measures, healthcare is like bowling with a black curtain in front of the pins.

]]> By: Dr. Bob http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12031 Dr. Bob Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:57:35 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12031 One of the problems with our polarized political system is that it is more important to win the argument than to find the solution. Dr. Bob One of the problems with our polarized political system is that it is more important to win the argument than to find the solution.

Dr. Bob

]]> By: Ron Lindsey http://healthblog.ncpa.org/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/comment-page-1/#comment-12030 Ron Lindsey Wed, 18 Jul 2007 15:56:30 +0000 http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/rationing-seniors%e2%80%99-health-care/#comment-12030 Option 1 would be a killer. Higher education inflation is the only thing that has exceeded health care inflation in recent times. Hooking the baby boomers into that would be political suicide. You are right when you say you are the only think tank looking at options. Keep up the good work. Option 1 would be a killer. Higher education inflation is the only thing that has exceeded health care inflation in recent times. Hooking the baby boomers into that would be political suicide.

You are right when you say you are the only think tank looking at options. Keep up the good work.

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