Harvard Medical School Dean: ObamaCare Will “Accelerate” Spending & “Do Little To Improve Quality”

Flopping Aces ^ | 11-18-09 | Curt

[Starman417]

The Dean, Jeffrey S. Flier, decimates the the fairytale from the Obama camp:

In discussions with dozens of health-care leaders and economists, I find near unanimity of opinion that, whatever its shape, the final legislation that will emerge from Congress will markedly accelerate national health-care spending rather than restrain it. Likewise, nearly all agree that the legislation would do little or nothing to improve quality or change health-care’s dysfunctional delivery system.

Meanwhile, another Harvard alumni weighs in:

Joseph Stubbs, President of the American College of Physicians -- the second largest doctors' group in the country -- confirms that "the supply of doctors just won't be there" for the 30 million new patients Barack Obama wants to cover. Noting that the doctor shortage is "already a catastrophic crisis," Stubbs said that underserved areas in the U.S. currently need almost 17,000 new primary care physicians even before Obama's proposals are enacted.

In the meantime, according to Bloomberg News, a 2009 survey by Merritt Hawkins and Associates, a recruiting and research firm in Irving, Texas, found that "the average waiting time to see a family-medicine doctor in Boston ... is 63 days, the most among the 15 cities" surveyed. By comparison, in Miami, it was only seven days.

The study noted that Boston's longer wait was "driven in part by the health-care reform initiative" passed in 2006 in Massachusetts upon which the Obama program is modeled. Bloomberg reported that "as many as half of doctors in the state have closed their practices to new patients, forcing many of the newly insured to turn to emergency rooms for care."

[Col Frank Slade]

That’s gonna leave a mark.

[albie]

Looks like Jeffrey Flier will be up for a visit from some friendly neighborhood goons.

[demshateGod]

“Accelerate” Spending & “Do Little To Improve Quality”

Then, In 0’s mind, it will be a success.

[Mrs. Don-o]

Terrific story--- thanks for posting this.

I hope somebody's saving all these stories. I'm (in a disorganized way) saving 'em as I see 'em. And, of course, sharing 'em around.