Let's face it, cutting costs is as much fun as dieting. Maybe less.
Which may explain why health care reform is such a daunting topic. The Senate bill that is facing a key procedural vote on Saturday is filled with complex policies to "bend the cost curve" on health care. There is a commission on costs, a tax on high-cost insurance plans, and a variety of new payment options for medicare.
The complexity implies more certainty than reality to the health care cuts. Congress is changing incentives and putting in place new structures that have a chance to save money, but are not proven to do so. It is hard to tell the voters that we have to try to cut costs, but don't really know how to do so.
The other issue, of course, is that the Senate bill expands coverage to millions of Americans. Budget hawks worry about combining guaranteed access with uncertain savings. Progressives fire back that it is unfair to squeeze out costs without first bringing everyone into the system.
These are the real issues. I wonder how much they will be debated this weekend?
Comments
Cost containment can come if Congress investigated the worst offenders like 2 examples :
Yesterday a friend told me about an Ambulance run - less than 2 miles in Boston - $1200 and her ride home of 8 miles was $2400 !
- Another friend with CP and an electric wheelchair had asked Medicare for a durable Wheelchair after 20 years so to effect Cost Containment they paid for an item that may be suitable for a flat surface of say a Nursing Facility but he forcefully had told them he used the thing on the streets and potholes of Boston. He was ignored so now after 6 years the repairs have cost the " system " at least twice what the chair cost - plus it's been out of his apartment at least 1 of the 6 years as he was given loaner chairs - unsafe things! Paying attention to what the patient says will save a lot of $ in the end!
Both my wife and I have superb employer based medial insurance and this year we are both " Cancer survivors " and while we both favor the reform's before Congress we sure hope they try to remove all the slack in the " System ."
Joe in Boston
Support the families of injured soldiers at any cost . they risk their lives for theit country and they are entitled to our support.