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posted Jun 18, 2009 2:59 PM by Lane Trippe
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updated Jun 18, 2009 4:28 PM
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One of the core issues in health care reform seems to be "comparative effectiveness research" to determine where and how we should be spending our dollars--so we can reduce how much of our money we are spending on health care and change how we are spending it. As described in the discussion between Gail Collins and David Brooks (link below),
" McConnell and his faithful Republican Whip, Jon Kyl, have announced they’re introducing a bill to prohibit the government from using comparative effectiveness research or other tools to reduce health care costs. They’re raising the specter of health care rationing and trying to terrify the public into opposing the most critical and sensitive part of Obama’s entire effort, cost control."
If you want to understand what "Comparative Effectiveness Research" is, listen to Dr. Gawande (recent interview on NPR) or read his article in The New Yorker. (Both are linked here on the "Reference Links and Documents" page.)
So my question -- echoing the point made so well by David Leonhardt (see link on Reference page) -- is where are we if we refuse (a la Mitch McConnell) to use the available facts on WHAT WORKS and WHAT DOESN'T, to increase the quality of care? Where will we be in 5 years if we continue to pour money (our own money and our government funds) into systems that are focused on "maximizing revenue streams"? A blunter question would be, "What happens if we DON'T start to make informed choices?" How do you see the issue?
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posted Jun 15, 2009 11:41 AM by Bice Wilson
If you have been hearing about the "co-op" proposal and wondering how to respond, here are some short readings (attached and links) and PHONE NUMBERS:
First, the phone numbers:
Senator Charles Schumer 914-734-1532, 212-486-7693, 202-228-3027
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand 914-725-9294, 212-688-6262, 202-224-4451 Rep. Lowey, Nita 914-428-1707, 202-225-6506
Rep. Engel, Eliot 914- 699-4100, 718-796-9700, 202-225-2464
Rep. Hall, John 845-225-3641 ext. 371, 202- 225-5441 Here and attached are the readings:
http://blogs.tnr.com/tnr/blogs/the_treatment/archive/2009/06/14/hacker.aspx -- Jacob Hacker
Thanks to Rosemarie White for drawing my attention to this piece with Bill Moyers and Robert Reich:
http://www.pbs.org/video/video/1151173294/chapter/2/search/moyers
Also, here is Tim Foley's blog,
http://healthcare.change.org/blog/view/the_co-op_is_the_heidi_and_spencer_of_health_care
and remember tomorrow night Tim will be speaking about this very issue:
THE PUBLIC OPTION TEACH IN
Tuesday, June 16th
7:30 to 9:30
The Irish Rogue
356 West 44th Street, 2nd floor.
Between 8th and 9th Ave.
The public option is in jeopardy, and the public needs to take action. Tim Foley, Change.org health care blogger, will teach us about the public option and its rivals -- the trigger option and the coop plan. The public deserves accurate and well balanced information. Invite anyone and everyone!
See the attachment below from Robert Reich |
posted Jun 9, 2009 10:35 AM by Bice Wilson
Many folks see single payer as a threshold issue - either it MUST be or it MUST NOT be.
Others see it as a goal that is unachieveable in the current environment.
Still others see it as "socialized medicine", and feel that such practice would run against the very fabric of their America.
What do you think? |
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