1) Bioethicist Daniel Callahan: “Are we going to continue funding programs for the elderly at a time when so many people have no health coverage?”
My take: Uh, yes. Increasing funding for primary care and geriatric physician access will lower health care costs in the long run. Ensuring a strong generalist base is essential before tackling universal coverage. Otherwise, you will have millions of newly insured patients without a doctor to see.
Focusing on coverage first before costs is doomed to failure, as Massachusetts is learning first-hand.
2) Speaking of Massachusetts, Senate President Therese Murray suggests an infusion of $25 million per year to help fund electronic medical records.
My take: Laughable. It’s not nearly enough, considering cost estimates exceed $500 million. Unless electronic medical records are fully funded, the majority of independent practicing physicians do not have any incentive to make the switch.
In fact, the individual physician rarely sees the investment return of electronic records. They pony up the initial capital while the cost savings go to the government and health insurers. It’s a lose-lose proposition.
3) Medicare will continue to cover CT-cardiac scanning.
My take: Curious move. The technology is still in the investigational stage, without any studies that show a mortality benefit. I’m not sure this is the wisest way for cash-strapped Medicare to spend its money.
Read the rest of “my takes“.
