The Mayo Clinic's criticism of the House "Tri-Committee" bill (Obamacare)

[LA Ute]

The Mayo Clinic posted this commentary on the Congressional plan that was released a couple of days ago:

Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite.

In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a fundamental lever – a change in Medicare payment policy – to help drive necessary improvements in American health care. Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of transformation in American health care will wither. The real losers will be the citizens of the United States.

I really dislike the Tri-Committee bill, so I agree with what Mayo says. Their take also seems consistent with what Atul Gawande said in the article Cardiac linked to yesterday. I think, however, that the conservatives who are so gleeful about this should keep in mind that Mayo's criticism of the bill is pretty focused: Medicare payment policy still encourages more care, rather than the right care. It would not be hard to amend the bill to at least try to do that -- and as a small-government guy at heart I worry about the federal government trying to exercise oversight of medical decisions.

[UtahDan]

This is getting no coverage. What is the Mayo Clinic anyway, are they important? They don't sound very healthy unless it is that new olive oil mayo they are talking about.

[il Padrino Ute]

This is getting no coverage. What is the Mayo Clinic anyway, are they important? They don't sound very healthy unless it is that new olive oil mayo they are talking about.

Why would the Obama worshipers in the media report something that shows he has absolutely no idea what the effects of his policies will do?

[SloanHater]

The Mayo Clinic posted this commentary on the Congressional plan that was released a couple of days ago:

Just to clarify, Is this an official Mayo Clinic Press Release or just a post on an opinion blog ?

[il Padrino Ute]

Just to clarify, Is this an official Mayo Clinic Press Release or just a post on an opinion blog ?

The site is healthpolicyblog.mayclinic.org so you ask a good question.

[LA Ute]

Just to clarify, Is this an official Mayo Clinic Press Release or just a post on an opinion blog ?

It is an official Mayo Clinic blog. I cannot tell whether the person posting the comments is speaking for Mayo or just for herself.

[Hallelujah]

The Mayo Clinic posted this commentary on the Congressional plan that was released a couple of days ago:

Although there are some positive provisions in the current House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed legislation misses the opportunity to help create higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In fact, it will do the opposite.

In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a fundamental lever – a change in Medicare payment policy – to help drive necessary improvements in American health care. Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of transformation in American health care will wither. The real losers will be the citizens of the United States.

I really dislike the Tri-Committee bill, so I agree with what Mayo says. Their take also seems consistent with what Atul Gawande said in the article Cardiac linked to yesterday. I think, however, that the conservatives who are so gleeful about this should keep in mind that Mayo's criticism of the bill is pretty focused: Medicare payment policy still encourages more care, rather than the right care. It would not be hard to amend the bill to at least try to do that -- and as a small-government guy at heart I worry about the federal government trying to exercise oversight of medical decisions.

So would the federal government cease spending large sums of money on AIDS patients who are diagnosed of dying anyway?

[Hallelujah]

Just to clarify, Is this an official Mayo Clinic Press Release or just a post on an opinion blog ?

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthpoli...endations.html

[All-American]

So would the federal government cease spending large sums of money on AIDS patients who are diagnosed of dying anyway?

I'll be the first to support the bill that proposes we stop spending federal funds on anybody who is going to die someday. That'll solve ALL our problems.

[Hallelujah]

I'll be the first to support the bill that proposes we stop spending federal funds on anybody who is going to die someday. That'll solve ALL our problems.

That would be budget neutral. Send that suggestion to Congress!

[doctorcoug]

The concept they speak of is called the "patient centered medical home". There is a pilot program running to test it out. Essentially primary care physicians get paid differenkg levels based upon how well they do. For instance, did you order the diabetes lab teat at the recommended time? I'd you did, then you fit the silver level and you will make 15 dollars extra per Medicare patient (I chose that number).

This is an outcomes based model that seems to be a porton of what we are lacking. I think it is the most important as it will do what I think is the beat bang for the buck, which is to give all public aid patients a primary care physician. This is huge. It wl decrease er visodts on top of provodig better outcomes.

The AAFP, ACOFP, ACP, and the AOA support thi change. That encompesses a huge number of doctors in the us. The democrats and republicans are idiots for ignoring this.

[Viking]

The concept they speak of is called the "patient centered medical home". There is a pilot program running to test it out. Essentially primary care physicians get paid differenkg levels based upon how well they do. For instance, did you order the diabetes lab teat at the recommended time? I'd you did, then you fit the silver level and you will make 15 dollars extra per Medicare patient (I chose that number).

This is an outcomes based model that seems to be a porton of what we are lacking. I think it is the most important as it will do what I think is the beat bang for the buck, which is to give all public aid patients a primary care physician. This is huge. It wl decrease er visodts on top of provodig better outcomes.

The AAFP, ACOFP, ACP, and the AOA support thi change. That encompesses a huge number of doctors in the us. The democrats and republicans are idiots for ignoring this.

I have a different solution: let the folks who can't control themselves with food, other addictions just die off. Why should I pay for their fat asses?