Health care groups outline plan to save money

[Old Coot]

Source: Politico

Six major health care organizations submitted a 28-page proposal Monday to President Barack Obama detailing how they could save $2 trillion over 10 years.

Some of the savings proposed Monday mirror ideas already under consideration in Congress, including reducing the number of hospital readmissions, increasing the use health information technology and preventing chronic diseases. They also propose streamlining administrative processes, reducing medical errors and promoting comparative effectiveness research.

“We have convened seven all-day meetings and multiple conference calls to discuss what we can contribute, both individually and collectively, to help achieve that challenging goal,” the groups said in a joint letter. “We have made solid progress. Individually and together, our organizations have developed initiatives that will help move the nation toward achieving the Administration’s goal and we intend to keep working.”

The groups represent key sectors in the health care reform debate, including physicians, hospitals, workers, insurers and pharmaceuticals.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/23180.html

[NC_Nurse]

1. Amazing how they figured this out suddenly! What could have changed?

Oh yeah, the threat of a better, cheaper public option. :think:

How do these shills not choke on their own foolishness?

[angstlessk]

2. this appears to save money FOR THE FUCKING INSURANCE INDUSTRY!

screw that...the government will pay for improvements to save the fucking insurance companies money to fork over to the stock holders and ceo's!!!

[ThirdWorldJohn]

3. Some of these things could have been done years ago. The taxpayer will pick up the tab to implement

these 'reforms' as usual. Seems like another corporate give away and the taxpayer is left out of the discussion.
Hey do you think that we will be able to buy cheap meds from Canada or Mexico. Is that why there is a passport requirement has started today - to be just another deterrent for the sick and infirm in this country?

[Triana]

15. The insurance companies promised this stuff years ago - LAST time a public/gov't option...

...was mentioned. (Carter, I believe - not sure)

They were all grovelling at the feet of Congress et al to do all sorts of things to save money (INCLUDING CONTINUING TO FIND MORE REASONS TO DENY CARE) - as long as the gov't please please didn't include any public or gov't insurance option that might hurt the PROFITS of the precious insurance pirates.

It's a RUSE. It was last time. It is this time.

[DJ13]

4. Imagine the savings if we just got rid of the blood sucking insurance industry?

If we can "save" $2 trillion with them, we can save far more without them and their profits getting in the way.

[Auggie]

5. Anyone have the sound effect for a bullshit alert?

[MSC2007]

6. Exterminate The Corruption and Health Care Would Be Affordable!!!

Call your representatives.

http://www.medicalsupplychain.com/news.htm

[kenfrequed]

7. This is idiocy.

Even were all these miraculous savings possible, the insurance companies are still never going to help people with pre-existing conditions. Moreover, savings this year will inevitably become profits in subsequent years.

[Moosepoop]

8. "Reducing the number of hospital readmissions"

How are they proposing to do that? By refusing to cover readmissions that doctors deem necessary?
Are patients now going to be limited to one hospital stay per condition, even if a relapse occurs?

Something tells me the patient is not going to be their first priority here (what's new?).

[sutz12]

9. Translation....

"Maintaining corporate profits in an increasingly hostile market through government subsidies."

:puke:

[L0oniX]

10. I've got a bridge for sale too.

[winyanstaz]

11. no, no , no! This is just more of the same care with a new bow on top...

We want single payer...whats wrong that these people cannot hear American tapayers?
If all it took was to streamline a few things...it could have been done long ago..why was it not already done?
The time for insurance companies and drug companies to run our healthcare is past.

[MasonJar]

12. The doctors and the workers and possibly the hospitals I believe.

The insurance companies and the pharmaceuticals I say balderdash. They know people are fed up so they will say anything. Didn't they already back out on their promises to Obama?

[dflprincess]

13. Health insurers have nothing to do with health care

except to block access to it.

[Triana]

16. Yep - and collect premiums for nothing. n/t

[rocktivity]

20. That should be, except TO MAKE MONEY by blocking access to it.

It's the nature of the beast.

The insurance industry is not in the business of insuring--like any other industry, it's in the business of turning a profit. Insurance companies happen to turn a profit by collecting more in premiums than they pay out in claims. For health insurance companies, paying out as little as possible in claims means that some people must end up getting sicker than they need to and dying sooner than they ought to.

The profit motive is the tumor that has poisoned the American health care system. It must be removed with surgical precision--if you'll pardon the expression.

:headbang:
rocktivity

[Triana]

14. Hellooo! We've been through this song and dance BEFORE - they promised the MOON and guess WHAT?

the same old FOR-PROFIT greed continued and INSURANCE COMPANIES continued raising their rates, health care costs skyrocketed and INSURANCE COMPANIES CONTINUED DENYING VITAL CARE FOR PROFIT - collecting premiums and then REFUSING to pay for care.

THIS IS NOT CHANGE.

[Skittles]

17. of course it's not change

but it is what we are going to get

[dflprincess]

18. Sure it is,

in the past it's been voluntary, now we're going to be forced to contribute to their profits.

[rocktivity]

19. How THEY can save 2 trillion? How does that help US?

All they're going to do is reduce their overhead, which will mean even LESS care for us! We can save twice that much in half the time by going single payer and cutting out the profit motive altogether!

P.S. Consider the source--politics' answer to TMZ.

:mad:
rocktivity