President Bush visits Minnesota 08/22/06 to sign an executive order on a new health care proposal and to attend a fundraiser for a Republican Congressional candidate. Sounds like a busy trip and like it deserves two discussions... Let's focus on the health care proposal. According to Bush focuses on health care 'transparency', the new health care order directs four federal agencies to compile information about the quality and price of care they pay for. This includes (quote):
-Use, where available, health information computer systems that can talk to each other. That way, the health records of a veteran living in Maine can be viewed by a doctor working in California if the veteran needs emergency care there during a vacation. Agencies will also require that providers doing business with the government purchase products that meet that same standard for data sharing.
-Enact programs that measure the quality of care, and develop those measures with the private sector and other government agencies.
-Make available to beneficiaries the prices that agencies pay for common procedures.
-Develop and identify practices that promote high-quality health care.
Is this a step in the right direction for health care? What are the pros and cons of this approach?
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Julia Schrenkler
Minnesota Public Radio Interactive Producer
*Note* catch the live audio coverage on Minnesota Public Radio News 08/22/06
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Comments: 7
The recent change request from CMS to the Medicare rates from $98.40 if one makes less than $50,000 a year to over $200 if one makes over $200,000 a year. Will probably pass after the election or in the 2008 rates for Part B of Medicare. The idea of everyone paying the same for Medicare Part B is an issue that has just not worked and the more wealthy will simply pay more.
The other issues of say Medicaid and the working poor that are not eligible for Medicaid will also be addresses soon I feel.
But the bigger issue of everyone buying, in conjunction with the employers, their own Health Care Insurance and being responsible for it, is still being pushed.
This I also think will pass and be the way we go in the country.
I think that Bush was just re-emphasizing these issues in a forum that was a good forum for him to re state what is already going on.
The focus was to bring the Health Care issue to the front burner again. For the only purpose of getting it in peoples minds
I fear that the same will happen with health care. Strive for the lowest standard, not the optimal. I don't know how to get around it. Maybe Lois Quam has an idea about this?
You're probably not alone in that fear, Susan. You made me wonder: if health care is a commodity that can be price shopped...what if we get what we pay for?
I think that Bush isn't seeing the technology movement in the health care communities in this country such that they will have the necessary technology to even use an archived medical record. Therefore, the push also for the technology in the Health Care community.
However, the other changes on the cost side, are also huge and I think more important as the over-all cost of Health Care Insurance and how we in the US go about revising how we pay for Health Care is on the line.
Maybe more than a bump.
When healthcare or anything is "free" people will want more of it. This whole talk of single payer or governement monopolized heathcare is going in wrong direction if it doesn't give people monitary rewards or punishments for their lifestyle.