January 4th, 2010 by DrRich in Better Health Network, Health Policy
No Comments »
One would think American health insurance companies would be caterwauling about the provisions laid out for them in the healthcare reform legislation which Harry Reid (and a few of his elves) assembled for us Americans in their secret workshop just before Christmas.
On their face, those provisions do not appear to allow insurance companies a viable business model. Insurers under Reid’s bill would be required to accept all comers, regardless of age or underlying medical conditions. They would be required to cover all manner of healthcare services, including outpatient and inpatient services, maternity and newborn care, mental health and substance abuse services, rehabilitative services, lab services, preventive and wellness services, chronic disease management, prescription drugs, dental care, and eye care. They would be limited in what they can charge in the way of insurance premiums, and their profits (if by some miracle there were any), would be strictly capped. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Covert Rationing Blog*
December 29th, 2009 by Happy Hospitalist in Better Health Network, Health Policy, True Stories
No Comments »
I have yet another example of how third party insurance rules obstruct efficient patient care. I was asked to see a patient with fibromyalgia who was asking about about the drug Lyrica she heard about on television (one example of how direct to consumer marketing increases health care expenses). Lyrica is about the only medication approved by the FDA to treat fibromyalgia. I don’t know if it really works or if it’s just an expensive placebo effect.
Maybe fibromyalgia is all in the head, and that’s why this medication works. I don’t really care. I know it’s FDA approved, which means it has more going for it than most pharmaceuticals used for off label purposes. At least doctors who prescribe Lyrica for fibromyalgia aren’t going to get charged with homicide for prescribing medications for unapproved reasons. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at The Happy Hospitalist Blog*
December 16th, 2009 by AlanDappenMD in Primary Care Wednesdays
No Comments »
Over the past few weeks, I’ve presented a parody of family medicine, whereby each character (Mrs. Doctor, Mr. Insurance, Patients) represent the current triad of the most dysfunctional of all American families: that of primary care practice. This week, Mrs. Doctor airs her grievances to her counselor about her evermore demanding and unreasonable spouse, Mr. Insurance).
A week after Mrs. Doctor’s visit to her PCP’s office, she sits in a waiting room, awaiting her first visit with the therapist.
Unlike the chaotic, tense reception at her primary care physician’s office, the therapist’s waiting room is everything but: it boasts relaxing designs and colors, is not crowded, and no noise save the soft bubbling from a Zen water fountain can be heard. A feeling of calm invites Mrs. Doctor to sit and reflect.
Read more »
December 14th, 2009 by EvanFalchukJD in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
1 Comment »
Over at The Corner, Ramesh Ponnuru theorizes that people want more control over how they spend their health care dollars:
[Ezra] Klein’s argument is that if employees understood that the employer’s alleged share of their health-care costs are really part of their wages — and if they saw it on their paychecks — they would be more supportive of cost control. I agree with that. But I assume he means (based on his examples in this op-ed) that they would be more supportive of cost controls imposed by HMOs or Congress. I think they would be more inclined to favor turning over control of health insurance from their employers to themselves, and making the cost-quality trade-offs for themselves with their own money. Under the status quo, those trade-offs are made by other people and the fact that it’s the employees’ money is obscured.
It sounds nice in theory. But in practice it seems to be exactly wrong.
Here’s why. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at See First Blog*
December 14th, 2009 by Stanley Feld, M.D. in Better Health Network, Health Policy, Opinion
No Comments »
A reader wrote;” I am getting tired of you telling me how bad the healthcare reform bill is.”
I am tired of writing about the bill. I feel compelled to try to clearly explain the harmful potential of the bill to an unsuspecting public.
Most Americans agree the country needs healthcare reform.
Many intelligent people believe President Obama is on the right track. They believe he is going to provide universal healthcare coverage, affordable healthcare cost, and improve the quality of medical care.
Few in the mainstream media are discussing the real impact of President Obama’s Healthcare Reform Plan.
President Obama cannot accomplish his goals with this bill. He is going to increase federal spending and taxes for every American’s not just the wealthy. Read more »
*This blog post was originally published at Repairing the Healthcare System*
