#15 | Commentary on Managed Care |
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Monday, 15 November 2010 |
Commentary by
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I am writing this commentary as a deeply concerned physician, presenting these issues from my viewpoint of having been intimately involved in the practice and administration of health care in a variety of programs with military and civilian staff personnel and patients over a span of 45+ years. A fundamental transformation is indeed afoot, change you will have to believe in – like it or not. Providers and the public had better prepare for the hidden consequences, only a few of which are presently obvious! There are significant issues and changes to contemplate regarding how to best accommodate the health care needs of our communities now and in the out years with the resources available to us. All providers must have a comprehensive understanding of the terms for which all will all be held accountable: “best practices”, “standards of care” “meaningful use”, “compliance”, “comparative effectiveness” …and so on. Some of this is heavy reading, but you won’t find it dull. This is my understanding of what the original 1,017 page bill truly projected for the future of the deliverance and funding of health care in America, should it have been passed. Of course this bill has now been superseded by a 2,700+ page bill with even more ominous features – the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law 23 March 2010. There is no argument that reform is indeed necessary, but the reformation should be in the funding and accessibility to health care, tort reform, and the leveling of the insurance playing field to remove the excesses now rampant in the siphoning away of the insurance premium dollar (read my early commentaries). The ACA does not bode well for America... The present administration knows little, if anything, about “the real world” provision of healthcare …ergo the CMS dilemma, a governmental program, mind you. 4 Nov. 2010
– And so it begins: Determination of Essential Health Benefits
Far more ominous — You need to know there are a couple of never mentioned provisions found deep in the "Stimulus Bill". One provision establishes a 15-member board, the "Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research" for medical care. Functionally, this is a rationing board. Three days after passage of the Stimulus Bill, President Obama named all 15 members to this board. Also in this same bill, the "National Coordinator for Health Information Technology" was charged to establish the means to "determine treatment at the time and place of care". How scary is that!!! And there are serious consequences for physicians not complying with the care determined by this activity – seriously heavy fines and even imprisonment!! This ‘meaningful use’ compliance standard is to begin being enforced in 2013. For more details please watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HnkxIh62dQ …and more >> Keep
yourself informed, and stay well. |
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