Industry Pledges to Control Health Care Costs

[groovedaddy]

WASHINGTON — Doctors, hospitals, drug makers and insurance companies will join President Obama on Monday in announcing their commitment to a sharp reduction in the growth of national health spending, White House officials said Sunday.

The officials said the plan could save $2,500 a year for a family of four in the fifth year and a total of $2 trillion for the nation over 10 years. That could make it less expensive for Congress to enact comprehensive health insurance coverage, a daunting challenge facing the Obama administration.

At this point, administration officials said, they do not have a way to enforce the commitment, other than by publicizing the performance of health care providers to hold them accountable.

By offering to hold down costs voluntarily, providers said, they hope to stave off new government price constraints that might be imposed by Congress or a National Health Board of the kind favored by many Democrats.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/health/policy/11drug.html?th&emc=th

[liberal N proud]

1. They are pledging control of the growth of the cost

Addressing nothing about cost reduction

[phantom power]

2. I think I'm going to stick with...

the "fuck you, I want single payer" option.

[napi21]

3. It's a nice gesture guys, but too little too late!

Are ya getting a little scared because the gov't competition just might force you into some decent business practices? I for one hope your damn gravy train has been derailed!

[OHdem10]

4. Over the years, go back to 80's , they promise and within 2 years

they are over the top in over charging.

[Nite Owl]

5. No way!

A reduction in growth, they gotta be kidding. It has to be a reduction the cost with no additional growth. They intend to keep raising cost but a little less than would have and this is supposed to their big concession? This not what people want or need to be done at all. Not even close.

[AndyA]

6. WHY? I ask. WHY NOW? Why not ten years ago? Why not twenty years ago?

Why are they doing this NOW? Is it because they know they've gong too far? Is it because they know change is about to be forced upon them?

Kudos to the poster above who mentioned reduction in costs. Costs need to be REDUCED, not just constrained. They are already making a killing, I guess they think the status quo is better than having to find ways to operate more efficiently and economically.

Pathetic, greedy opportunists. Kick them out of the process. They are the problem, they do not deserve to have a seat at the table.

[simple]

9. Finally, we got them

Yeah right,

We have the best health care for a reason.
I think everyone else rides on our coattails.

They are changing because they realize something: cut of our arm or cut off our head?

Good luck with that one-armed surgeon!

[dgibby]

7. Too little, too late.

I'm sticking with single payer. As a TRICARE recipient, it works for me.

[phantom power]

8. Mostly this reminds me how the coal industry was going to "self regulate"

on environmental impacts, and the financial industry was going to "self regulate."

They are making cheap promises to derail actual structural reform. If they succeed, absolutely nothing will change.

[Raster]

10. Have we not fucking learned that self-regulation DOES NOT WORK?

For the love of gawd, we have yet to see corporate/business entities that have promissed to be good little immortal citizens and play nice actually do so. It ain't going to happen. The ONLY FUCKING WAY we will see fairness and justice is if WE FORCE IT UPON THEM!

Single payor healthcare for all!:kick:

[simple]

12. Who will decide?

Your idea of fair is different than others, right?

The government is just one big Corporation, except they are the only ones that don't have to follow the laws we have to follow.

The government can and will monopolize industries, and eliminate our choices.

WTF has Government done that gives you the feeling they will do this right? Medicare? (bankrupt in 2017)

Where does this reliance on Government come from?!!!

I was born, freedom started then, and fairness (relative to the government) ended.

It will never be fair, we as a people help those in need, the government sucks at that.

[Raster]

13. Actually, Medicare bankrupt in 2017 is not accurate. Another right-wing talking point.

Enjoy your stay here. However brief it may be.

[steven johnson]

11. NYT: Skepticism on cost reductions and savings

Managed care and HMOs promised savings, too.

The unstoppable trends of an aging population and advancing, expensive, healthcare technology and drugs make the savings promises unlikely without rationing and limiting expensive treatments.

http://mobile.nytimes.com/article?a=362734&f=19

[yy4me]

14. Foxes in the hen house. n/t