Research Briefing

PREVIOUS AMA PRESIDENTS RIP OBAMA’S “GOVERNMENT OVERHAUL” OF HEALTH CARE, PROMOTE PATIENT-BASED INCENTIVES

What We Would Have Told Obama
From The Wall Street Journal
By Donald J. Palmisano, William G. Plested II And Daniel H. Johnson Jr.
October 4, 2009

“We aren’t among the doctors invited to a Rose Garden event today to ‘join the President in pushing for health insurance reform this year and [who] have offered their help and support,’ as a White House press release put it. It’s unfortunate only supporters of the president’s plans will be there. Mr. Obama has missed an opportunity to learn more about the real issues facing patients and doctors and to formulate a plan that truly puts patients in control with doctors as trusted advisers.

“The United States has the best health care in the world today, and thanks to the ever-expanding frontiers of science and medical innovation the brightest days are ahead. It is true that there are Americans who fall through the cracks of our medical system every day—and as a caring nation, we must do what we can to expand access to medical care to those who need it. But this can be accomplished without a costly and inefficient government overhaul of the entire system. One easy reform would be to enable individuals to buy policies offered in any state, not just where they live. This will enhance competition. But more government-run health insurance will only lead to disaster.

“Today, Medicare already reimburses doctors less than what many of their treatments cost to provide. Now the government is saying that additional Medicare cuts are coming—thus forcing doctors to try and make up the difference in volume, by seeing more patients. If you ask patients about this, they understand that more volume means less time with the doctor. That’s something that all patients and doctors should oppose. In time, it will be difficult to find a physician …

“There are many other ways to expand access to health care for uninsured Americans. We could strengthen incentives to purchase low-cost health savings accounts, provide tax credits for individuals and families buying health policies on their own, and extend subsidies for those who need financial help. Also, the right of patients to privately contract with physicians to ensure they have the medical care they want, without penalty—regardless of what the government pays—must be recognized and protected. Today, if a doctor wants to bill a patient for additional payment over the Medicare reimbursement, he has to withdraw from Medicare entirely for two years. A patient who agrees with this arrangement can’t receive any Medicare money for that service, either. …”

To View The Entire Article, Please Visit:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704471504574449513730221946.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_sections_opinion#printMode

WITH AMERICANS SOLIDLY AGAINST OBAMA’S EXPERIMENT, GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R-LA) OFFERS 10 COMMON SENSE SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH CARE

The Conservative Case For Reform
From The Washington Post
By Bobby Jindal
October 5, 2009

“… But memo to Washington: The debate on health care has moved on. Democratic plans for a government takeover are passé. The people don’t want it. Believe the polls, the town halls, the voters …

“Democrats may march forward anyway, but they will do so without the people, and at their own peril …

“So here are 10 ideas to increase the affordability and quality of health care …

“Voluntary purchasing pools: Give individuals and small businesses the opportunities that large businesses and the government have to seek lower insurance costs.

“Portability: As people change jobs or move across state lines, they change insurance plans. By allowing consumers to ‘own’ their policies, insurers would have incentive to make more investments in prevention and in managing chronic conditions.

“Lawsuit reform: It makes no sense to ignore one of the biggest cost drivers in the system -- the cost of defensive medicine, largely driven by lawsuits …

“Require coverage of preexisting conditions: … Companies should be incentivized to focus on delivering high-quality effective care, not to avoid covering the sick.

“Transparency and payment reform: Consumers have more information when choosing a car or restaurant than when selecting a health-care provider. Provider quality and cost should be plainly available to consumers, and payment systems should be based on outcomes, not volume …

“Electronic medical records: The current system of paper records threatens patient privacy and leads to bad outcomes and higher costs.

“Tax-free health savings accounts: HSAs have helped reduce costs for employers and consumers. Some businesses have seen their costs decrease by double-digit percentages …

“Reward healthy lifestyle choices: Providing premium rebates and other incentives to people who make healthy choices or participate in management of their chronic diseases has been shown to reduce costs and improve health.

“Cover young adults: … Permitting young people to stay on their parents’ plans longer would reduce the number of uninsured and keep healthy people in insurance risk pools -- helping to lower premiums for everyone.

“Refundable tax credits: … Redirecting some of the billions already spent on the uninsured will help make non-emergency care outside the emergency room affordable for millions and will provide choices of coverage through the private market rather than forcing people into a government-run system …

“In short, ideas matter. The public is interested in solutions that will improve America’s health-care system, not dismantle it …”

To View The Entire Article, Please Visit:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/04/AR2009100402003_pf.html