Reform: AMA Resisting

[Winter_123]

Looks like one of the parties that sang kumbaya with Obama at the White House in May is going to break ranks. What people forget, especially Obama, is that they agreed to work together to reduce health costs. That does not necessarily equate to supporting Obama's plan.

The AMA is a weasel. They supported universal health when it looked like more volume for their doctors. Now they see that they were set up to become "health care workers" who see more patients for fewer dollars. Wise up chowderheads! What did you think that socialized medicine looked like.

If someone slaps them hard enough, maybe AHIP will smarten up soon. Their little lovefest with Obama isnt going to lead to mandated coverage and a gold rush. They are leading the industry down a rathole all while Obama is able to say he has their support. Wise up chowderheads!

Now the AMA will team up with Olympia and her band of moderates who are looking for recruits then we will have a decent dog fight around the issues rather than the backroom deals where both the government and the industry are trying to carve out turf.


Doctors? Chief Says Coverage Can Expand Without New U.S. Plan - Bloomberg.com

 

[LGilmore]

I kinda figured these folks would figure it out sooner or later. Everybody's always been fine with the "other" guy taking it in the shorts for healthcare, but when you're the "other" guy???

The easiest way to lower premiums will be to lower payments to doctors and hospitals as they do consume the largest part of the healthcare pie.

This is also why no plan has really surfaced because when it does... 4th of July! All these groups are going to s hit themselves when they see what they're supposed to give up.

I'm still betting that we end up nationally with what we have in WA state. Guaranteed issue, subsidized high risk pool and subsidized low income plan.

The reason? It's the easiest way to save face for OBama. He can "give" healthcare to all that way with the least amount of effort. Everything else is going to cost far more than we can afford and is going to take more than two terms to phase in with doctors and hospitals kicking and scratching all the way in.

 

[Winter_123]

I'm still betting that we end up nationally with what we have in WA state. Guaranteed issue, subsidized high risk pool and subsidized low income plan.

The reason? It's the easiest way to save face for OBama. He can "give" healthcare to all that way with the least amount of effort. Everything else is going to cost far more than we can afford and is going to take more than two terms to phase in with doctors and hospitals kicking and scratching all the way in.

Indeed and it has always been thus. But it is also the easiest way for the Republicans to save face too because it keeps it in the private sector. When Olympia Snowe talks about wanting to keep it in the private sector but to make changes there you can be sure that guaranteed issue is part of the equation and if there is a high risk pool to take the high users out of the picture, all the more palatable.

Guaranteed issue is coming. All the rest of the stuff like mandate and "public options" and the like can be beaten back unless the Republicans continue to go in circles as they have. Olympia will fix that even though she was a complete and total redcoat on the stimulus bill. She may have joined Arlen by cross the aisle on the stimulus bill but she is not going to be sent to Siberia like Arlen.

Yep, I know the argument that is continually made here. AHIP wont go for guaranteed issue unless there is a mandate. I just dont think they are holding enough cards and never were to play brinksmanship on that point. Of course, that will cause them to break and run and side with AMA and then one more of the kumbaya crowd will have broken ranks. Good.

 

[moonlightandmargaritas]

How dare anyone question a physician, or make him work within any sort of financial responsibility.

Don't you realize that in the pecking order they are second only to God - and should never be questioned?

 

[ghealthplus]

Can you elaborate on WA State Guaranteed Issue? What kind of plans are these? Thanks

 

[Mr. Bill]

How dare anyone question a physician, or make him work within any sort of financial responsibility.

Don't you realize that in the pecking order they are second only to God - and should never be questioned?

So true, except when they completely (or partially) screw up and then the attorneys take over. Talk about ON YOUR KNEES!!!

 

[djs]

As more reports and documents come out, such as the whitehouse report the other day, it becomes more obvious that the problem isn't so much the insurance companies (where AMA wants to put the blame) but the cost of actually providing care.

The whitehouse report basically said the only way to fix this is to decrease what we pay to hospitals and doctors. At that point, you can scratch the support of hospitals and doctors off the list.

Obama is great at pointing to a group who backs a concept and implying that they support his plan. He is careful with his words though.... In this, he truly is a master.

Dan
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How dare anyone question a physician, or make him work within any sort of financial responsibility.

Don't you realize that in the pecking order they are second only to God - and should never be questioned?

When did physicians get demoted?

 

[Winter_123]

The whitehouse report basically said the only way to fix this is to decrease what we pay to hospitals and doctors. At that point, you can scratch the support of hospitals and doctors off the list.

They would also get uneasy if Congress announced that it was going to reduce costs in Medicare/Medicaid 20% without reducing reimbursements by cutting fraud committed by physicians, bogus clinics and lab owners etc.

 

[VolAgent]

Isn't it amazing when attention finally turns to what is really driving the cost of healthcare. Everyone can whine and complain all they want about drug and insurance companies, but we all seem to forget about the hospitals, lab companies, and doctors. Unless we change the rates these providers charge and are paid, we are just rearranging deck chairs. However, many claim that to regulate the fees paid to these providers will invite the socialized medicine that is common to Europe. To be honest, they are probably right about the consequences of further government regulation in this area.

The reality is, nothing is really going to change until all parties honestly agree to work together on a solution. And let's not forget one of the real problems with the current system, the millions of Americans that CAN afford and qualify for health insurance that choose not to purchase it. Eventually these people will need the system, but since they have free-loaded for so long, they are yet another drain on the system.

The sad truth is, I do not see any leader that is strong enough to convince all the involved parties to work towards a real solution.

 

[somarco]

Just wait until the pay czar decides that providers who receive Medicare/Medicaid/SCHIP funds are subject to his governance . . .