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A Triple Threat to Patients [New GOP Congress needs to pull plug on TAP, CER, & Berwick]
Anmerican Spectator ^ | 10/25/10 | Robert M. Goldberg

Posted on 10/25/2010 4:48:29 PM PDT by rhema

If and when a new Congress comes in, the fastest way to eliminate Obamacare will be by shutting down its "operating system" the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services and investigating its unconfirmed director, Donald Berwick. And it should start by pulling the plug on Berwick's Triple Aim Program and the billions of dollars he has for implementing it.

The Triple Aim Program (TAP) focuses on "improving the patient experience, improving population health and lowering per capita health care costs." Berwick claims that all three are achievable not through consumer driven healthcare. In various speeches and slide presentations, Berwick claims there are isolated examples of private health plans delivering quality care at a lower cost through something he calls an "integrator." Berwick believes that America provides far less health for too few people at twice the cost as Europe and Canada. The Triple Aim is Berwick's master plan to remake American healthcare into Britain's National Health Service.

In advancing TAP Berwick often invokes Garrett Hardin's Tragedy of the Commons, which held that people seeking their own self-interest will deplete limited resources. As Hardin wrote: "Freedom in a commons brings ruin to all." In his grand scheme the "integrator" in TAP will save us from ourselves.

The Triple Aim is the organizing principle of Berwick's work at CMS. Indeed, it is rumored he was hard at work with CMS and other administration officials before the President rammed through his recess appointment without any confirmation hearing. Absent a congressional hearing where records, emails, pay stubs, etc., are made available, the extent of Berwick's involvement -- if any at all -- is unknown.

(Excerpt) Read more at spectator.org ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: berwick; cer; cms; health; obama; obamacare; tap

1 posted on 10/25/2010 4:48:32 PM PDT by rhema
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To: rhema

What is the supposed limiting factor in a medical system in which freedom is permitted to flourish? Are medicines made out of unobtainium? Is something outside of Obamacare discouraging people from becoming doctors?


2 posted on 10/25/2010 4:53:13 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck (I am in America but not of America (per bible: am in the world but not of it))
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To: rhema

COMMUNISTS pretending to be scientists.


3 posted on 10/25/2010 5:05:35 PM PDT by SC_Pete
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To: rhema

The Spectator continues to be a national treasure.


4 posted on 10/25/2010 7:26:42 PM PDT by Senator Goldwater
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To: rhema

How can you improve patient care when there will be NONE! Jan 2011 starts the first round of doctor/hospital/nursing homes reimbursement cuts by 30% over the next 3 yrs. That on top of the Doc Fix expiring on Dec 31..the number of doctors taking Medicare patients will go from 60% to 0%.

My trip to the eye doc for preping for cataract surgery was $250..Doc got paid $75 and change.


5 posted on 10/25/2010 7:42:39 PM PDT by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, retired Military, disabled & Seniors)
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To: rhema

The Agency for Health Research and Quality or equivalent already existed before Obamacare. They should have been doing comparative effectiveness research. Berwick’s bureaucrats are redundant porkers.


6 posted on 10/27/2010 12:16:02 PM PDT by neverdem (Xin loi minh oi)
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