As far as answering questions, they could get educated as long as there’s no effect on Dr. Berwick’s appointment after all it has been years since CMS has had a director. What is interesting is the point they make about how he feels about the NHS system. Well the NHS is going through a 
major shift here so what he has referenced is the past operation as nobody knows yet how the new revisions will work, so that’s a dead topic of sorts.
NHS Putting Doctors Back in Charge Throughout the System – Unknown If Savings Will Occur & US Health Insurance Companies May See Business Opportunities Through Managing Care With GPs
On the qualifications side, where would you find someone better qualified, it’s just a political battle and one more opportunity to stall progress. He is only one person in the entire scheme of healthcare reform, an important one, but not crucial enough to stall and take more time that could be devoted to other pressing issues the US has right now. I think Dr. Berwick can hold his own pretty well. BD
Senate Republicans are demanding to hear from Don Berwick, the physician President Barack Obama recess-appointed last week to run the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Republicans on the Finance Committee, which has jurisdiction over the post, say that not holding a hearing with Berwick would “result in circumventing the open public review that should take place for a nomination of such importance” and “casts a shadow over his legitimacy and authority to serve as administrator during a critical time for CMS.”
They argue in a letter to Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) that Berwick needs to answer questions raised about his qualifications — namely, question they have regarding his statements in support of the British health care system and rationing. The letter was signed by all 10 Republicans on the committee.
Senate GOP wants Berwick hearing - Jennifer Haberkorn - POLITICO.com
I disagree that Berwick's written and spoken rejection of anything free market in favor of centralized rationing just less than two years ago is a 'dead issue.' Sure, Europe's entitlement culture is being pushed to its limits and many countries are moving toward the re-introduction of market reforms in various sectors previously dominated by the state. But the health care bill recently passed moves us more toward the European model than building on market-oriented reforms. It’s like we are dooming ourselves to repeat Europe’s mistakes. And Dr. Berwick, with control of CMS and its $800B budget, is poised to not only to direct the future of every American physician, but he will also be responsible for making life and death decisions regarding what care will be offered to patients. Having someone who believes in centralized control of such factors could forever change American medicine. Even democratic Sen Baucus and the New York Times were hardly supportive that such a powerful position has been granted to someone before he even submitted answers to senators' questions, let alone being scheduled for a hearing. This recess appointment of Dr Berwick makes many Americans feel uneasy, like the Administration doesn’t care to engage Congress and the People in their plans for the rest of us. It also reminds everyone of the backroom bribes, the CBO budgetary manipulation, the subversion of the traditional democratic process in passing huge transformative legislation and the untruths told regarding the bill (like you will be able to keep your own doctor or insurance plan if you are happy). What Berwick thinks about the role of the federal government and rationing matters more than anyone in government, except may be the POTUS and the Secretary of HHS.
ReplyDeleteI agree there's no real good solution here as if we don't have it on one side, the other side gets us as insurers have their plans as well.
ReplyDeleteI am watching the subsidiaries and what they are doing with analytics and it's not a pretty picture either when profits drive everything too.
If you look here and see what United is doing with their investments in China with promoting more Chinese drugs and devices, who knows what we will get.
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/05/unitedhealth-subsidiary-ingenix.html
Also with private equity firms taking over hospitals too who knows what type of care will be there as well.
http://ducknetweb.blogspot.com/2010/07/private-equity-hunt-for-us-health-plan.html