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The Obama administration wants to dramatically change how doctors are paid
WaPo ^ | 1/26/15 | Jason Millman

Posted on 01/26/2015 9:14:39 PM PST by Nachum

The Obama administration on Monday announced an ambitious goal to overhaul the way doctors are paid, tying their fees more closely to the quality of care rather than the quantity.

Rather than pay more money to Medicare doctors simply for every procedure they perform, the government will also evaluate whether patients are healthier, among other measures. The goal is for half of all Medicare payments to be handled this way by 2018.

Monday’s announcement marks the administration’s biggest effort yet to shape how doctors are compensated across the health-care system. As the country's largest payer of health-care services, Medicare influences medical care generally, meaning the changes being initiated by the administration will likely be felt in doctor's offices and hospitals across the country.

“As a very large payer in the system, we believe we have a responsibility to lead," said Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell in a press conference. "For the first time, we’re going to set clear goals and establish a clear timeline for moving from volume to value in the Medicare system.”

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 0carenightmare; doctors; doctorshortage; doctorspay; medicare; obamacare; obamacaredoctors; paid
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To: Nachum

Fahrenheit 451


21 posted on 01/26/2015 9:30:08 PM PST by Varsity Flight (Extortion-Care is is the Government Work-Camp: Arbeitsziehungslager)
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To: Nachum
"There's widespread agreement among policymakers that the U.S. health-care system needs to move away from rewarding doctors and hospitals for volume and focus more on the value of the care being offered. Doctors typically get paid set fees for every procedure they perform, regardless of whether patients get better."

I'm trying to figure out where this is going. Are they trying to discourage doctors from treating patients who have a poor prognosis? I do not trust that ANYTHING the Obama administration does will be presented with an honest statement of its real objectives.
22 posted on 01/26/2015 9:32:27 PM PST by Steve_Seattle
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To: Nachum
"The goal is for half of all Medicare payments to be handled this way by 2018. "

Since many primary care doctors are refusing to take on new Medicare patients now, in 2015, and there is a shortage of primary care physicians now, in 2015 -- in 2018 this is going to work ... how, exactly?


23 posted on 01/26/2015 9:33:37 PM PST by Sooth2222 ("In a democracy people get the leaders they deserve." - Joseph de Maistre, 1753-1821)
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To: Nachum
How long before doctors figure out treating the old, the permanently disabled, the chronically ill doesn't pay?

How long until people with certain markers in their DNA can't seem to get an appointment any more?

As soon as you pass a law, people will be looking for ways to exploit or evade it. They call it "unintended consequences" when the system evolves in unexpected ways to new conditions. This one could get ugly.

24 posted on 01/26/2015 9:34:04 PM PST by ZOOKER (Until further notice the /s is implied...)
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To: Nachum

They would like doctors to begin accepting Friskies cat food, no doubt.


25 posted on 01/26/2015 9:34:26 PM PST by Attention Surplus Disorder (At no time was the Obama administration aware of what the Obama administration was doing)
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To: Nachum
tying their fees more closely to the quality of care rather than the quantity.

Dear Doctor:

Do you perform abortions? And if not, why not?

A premium will be paid to all doctors willing to provide abortions.

And the more you perform the more money you will be paid.

Sincerely,

The Obama Administration

26 posted on 01/26/2015 9:34:26 PM PST by Slyfox (To put on the mind of George Washington read ALL of Deuteronomy 28, then read his Farewell Address)
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To: Steve_Seattle
I'm trying to figure out where this is going.
27 posted on 01/26/2015 9:35:01 PM PST by Nachum (Obamacare: It's. The. Flaw.)
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To: Nachum

Where?

To break the backs of the medical system and herd us all like cattle into single payer.


28 posted on 01/26/2015 9:35:56 PM PST by Nachum (Obamacare: It's. The. Flaw.)
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To: Steve_Seattle

“I’m trying to figure out where this is going.”

Adult and Child “Protective Services”.....Home invasion, individual “compliance”.

Fahrenheit 451


29 posted on 01/26/2015 9:36:41 PM PST by Varsity Flight (Extortion-Care is is the Government Work-Camp: Arbeitsziehungslager)
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To: Nachum

If you like your doctor...
Too bad.


Yep. They’ll all quit practicing if this comes to pass. First I figured they’d quit accepting Medicare patients, but I’m sure O—care forces them to take a certain amount or the law would be changed to ensure that.


30 posted on 01/26/2015 9:37:37 PM PST by leapfrog0202 ("the American presidency is not supposed to be a journey of personal discovery" Sarah Palin)
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To: laplata

As a Christian I have a very hard time with the hate in my heart for this man. I constantly repent because, like you, I have some very nasty thoughts and words about him.


31 posted on 01/26/2015 9:38:07 PM PST by Catsrus (al)
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To: Nachum

32 posted on 01/26/2015 9:39:09 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either satire or opinion. Or both.)
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To: Catsrus

As a Christian I have a very hard time with the hate in my heart for this man. I constantly repent because, like you, I have some very nasty thoughts and words about him.


Same here. God forgive me for what I think of and wish upon this demonically driven vile fiend.


33 posted on 01/26/2015 9:40:50 PM PST by laplata ( Liberals/Progressives have diseased minds.)
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To: Nachum

What could possibly go wrong...


34 posted on 01/26/2015 9:42:11 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Nachum
"A 2014 Rand Corporation study funded by HHS. The report, which reviewed pay-for-performance models implemented over the past decade, said improvements were "typically modest" and often hard to evaluate."

That's it in a nutshell. There's nothing wrong with want to see results for the money spent, per se. But evaluating health care isn't as simple as say, finding a good mechanic for your car. Especially when we're talking Medicare. Seniors are going to have a greater disposition towards chronic illness, and conditions that can be managed, but not cured. So, it's not so easy to define "improvement."

I would bet there will be additional political strings, too. We're already seeing the push for doctors to ask about guns in the home, etc. It would probably be a simple matter to define those sorts of actions as treatment or some other positive on the government forms. I really would put nothing past this bunch of statists.

Bottom line is, this is not likely to work. Nothing else this administration has done has been particularly success - at least not in a GOOD way.

35 posted on 01/26/2015 9:44:24 PM PST by DemforBush (I don't want any communists in my car!)
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To: Steve_Seattle

“”There’s widespread agreement among policymakers”

I want the names of these policy makers, and their addressses.


36 posted on 01/26/2015 9:45:12 PM PST by Lurker (Violence is rarely the answer. But when it is it is the only answer.)
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To: Nachum

Obama and HHS has already incentivized doctors not to see Obamacare or Medicaid patients.

Now he has further incentivized doctors not to see fat, tobacco-using, chronically sick, hypertensive, old or mentally ill Obamacare or Medicaid patients, because they won’t get paid if the result is not ideal.

Well done Obama and the US Government!


37 posted on 01/26/2015 9:46:15 PM PST by PGR88
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To: Nachum

Drug dealers have been trying to make this transition forever!..../s


38 posted on 01/26/2015 9:49:42 PM PST by M-cubed
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To: Nachum

Which means declare everyone to be “well” or “healed” regardless of reality in order to keep the federal dollars coming. Falsify statistics, keep everyone moving thru the cattle shutes, escalating the utter trashing of the health care system. Third world is the goal. Americans must pay dearly for all the years they had it good in this country. Nothing less will do. The Revengocracy is ramping up big-time.


39 posted on 01/26/2015 9:49:51 PM PST by bluejean (The lunatics are running the asylum)
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To: Brad from Tennessee
"Many doctors will simply stop seeing patients with Medicare."

It's already happened.

To me and my spouse.

40 posted on 01/26/2015 9:50:13 PM PST by shibumi ("Walk through the fire - Fly through the smoke")
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