Weekly Poll: Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

Medicare Wins with Affordable Care Act

By Pam Taylor

Despite well-documented examples of Medicare abuse and the latest suggested bi-partisan remedy (Is Curbing Medicare Waste, Fraud in the Cards?), Medicare is critical to the 40 million Americans 64 and over, as well as to others with disabilities, who must rely on it for quaility health care. And critical to Medicare is the Affordable Care Act.

 

Not only does the Affordable Care Act protect beneficiaries from significant increases in costs or cuts, provisions in the Act have resulted in significant declines in premium fees for the second year in a row.  And in 2012, premiums are projected to be 11.5 percent below 2010 premiums. 

Also by 2012, all beneficiaries will have access to Medicare-covered preventive services without paying a co-pay or deductible, including an annual wellness visit with their doctors.  The Act has not only strengthened consumer protections, it provides the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) with the authority to offer better Medicare plan choices.

 

According to CMS Administrator Dr. Donald Berwick, because of new provisions in the Affordable Care Act, “Medicare Advantage and prescription drug benefits are stronger than ever, and beneficiaries will continue to have access to a range of affordable products.” 2012 Medicare Advantage premiums fall and projected enrollment rises

The Affordable Care Act is a win for millions of Americans.  Why are opponents trying to turn back the clock without countering with meaningful and timely measures for improving health care services and delivery?  I say, let’s get politics out of health care reform.  

What say you?

Medicare Cuts Don’t Hurt Beneficiaries . . . So Far

Medicare Cuts Don’t Hurt Beneficiaries . . . So Far

Despite the clamor and protest that accompanies even the slightest suggestion to reduce Medicare costs, especially among Medicare recipients and their advocates, the reality is cuts in the program have primarily targeted the providers.

According to Joe Antos, a health economist with the American Enterprise Institute, despite substantial cuts to Medicare over the years, "We've hardly ever directly touched beneficiaries."

In fact, says Antos, who spent years examining the impact of the cuts for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), "the whole political history of (cutting) Medicare has been focused not on beneficiaries, it's been focused on health care providers," such as doctors, hospitals and nursing homes.  This year CBO estimates that spending levels for Medicare could reach $563 billion.

In fact, it can be argued that by improving the way Medicare services are delivered, our elderly consumers are the main beneficiaries.  Others argue that the historical approach to trimming Medicare is “win-win.” Hmmm—could this strategy be a model for “thoughtful” and efficient budget cutting? 

IOM: Protecting Women and Wallets?

IOM: Protecting Women and Wallets?

NPR reported that the Institute of Medicine delivered a potentially game-changing announcement today: “it recommends that the federal government consider putting "the full range of Food and Drug Administration-approved contraceptive methods" on the list of services for women that would be covered by insurers without a copay.”

According to the article, free contraceptives could serve for positive change surrounding the number of unwanted pregnancies in our country (currently about 50 percent), including financial strains on families and infant and mother health between pregnancies.

Detractors argue that government-mandated birth control would violate the religious rights of those whose beliefs forbid contraceptives, and those who hold that some forms of contraceptives act as precursors to abortion.

Click here to read and listen to the full story.

For Better Health Care, Gold Card Only (If You Have One)

For Better Health Care, Gold Card Only (If You Have One)

Most European countries view the United States' health care system as crazy. Where most Europeans have access to health care, Americans (supposedly we're living in the land of plenty), are either paying high health care rates or forgoing treatment and medications due to their inability to afford proper care. To widen the gap between "have" and have nots," those who can afford health care are receiving extra attention from their doctors by paying for "concierge" health care. By paying a higher membership fee, affluent patients can get more of their doctors' time during the week or weekends, with more attention to their needs. Some doctors have expressed concerns that this practice could lead to "higher paying clients receiving better care." When did having your health care needs met by your physician become a VIP service? Don't we all deserve this without paying for VIP treatment, or whipping out the gold card?

To learn more, view "Patients Pay Doctors More for VIP Treatment" on KMBC.com (Kansas City, Mo.)



New RWJF Directory Compares Hospitals and Doctors

New RWJF Directory Compares Hospitals and Doctors

Building on the growing trend to look for health care information online, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s just released a map-based directory designed to help users compare health care provided by local hospitals and physicians.  Foundation staff believe the directory will be especially helpful to people who “receive care in different areas of the country.”  To view the national directory, go here.  And to read the full article, see: New directory helps patients compare hospitals

“Are Doctors Playing Favorites”?

“Are Doctors Playing Favorites”?

Not everyone is happy about the Obama Administration’s plan to deploy “mystery shoppers” posing as patients and contacting doctors’ offices for appointments in an attempt to assess whether all people, regardless of type of health care coverage, are able to get care when they need it.  According to Washington, DC-based internist, Dr. Raymond Scalettar, “I don’t like the idea of the government snooping. It’s a pernicious practice — Big Brother tactics, which should be opposed.”  The Administration’s rationale for its proposed plan is the now critical shortage of primary care doctors coupled with what it believes is the practice by some physicians to give preferential treatment to patients with private insurance versus those covered by government payment plans. 

For more, see: U.S. Plans Stealth Survey on Access to Doctors.  

New Twist in Health Reform Legal Battle

New Twist in Health Reform Legal Battle

Up to now, the jurists hearing the case against the not quite 15-month old Affordable Care Act have responded along party lines—the four federal district judges appointed by Democratic presidents have ruled the law constitutional; the two Republican-appointed jurists say it is not.  More than 30 lawsuits have been filed by nearly as many states since the law was enacted in March 2010.  The latest legal arguments will be heard by a three-judge appellate court panel from the US Court of Appeals of the 11th Circuit in Atlanta.  This time, however, the jurist include a Republican appointee, a Democratic appointee and a third who is distinguished with appointments from both a Republican and Democrat President.  It’s probably safe to say this ruling could go either way. 

For full story, see: Legal battle over Obama’s health-care law moves to Atlanta courtroom

Nurses Are Vital to Hospice, Outpatient and Primary Health Care

Nurses Are Vital to Hospice,

Outpatient and Primary Health Care

The role of nurses has always been important in providing quality health care in hospitals; however, today’s nurses are transforming health care beyond hospital settings.  In addition to reinventing America’s approach to hospice care from “a service that provided a place to die to one that addressed many end-of-life issues and allowed patients to remain in their homes,” nurses have evolved into strong patient advocates and indeed are the sole source of quality, “high-level” health care for many underserved areas and populations in America.  And with the possibility of adding more than 35 million newly insured citizens as a result of health care reform, nurses will be even more critical to local and state public health departments and primary care centers.  

Highlighted Clip for Tuesday, May 31, 2011:

"Role of nurses extends beyond the hospital ward"

A nurse is a doctor’s best friend, according to Marvin M. Lipman, Consumers Union’s chief medical adviser. This advice was given to him by a hospital ward’s head nurse when he was a third-year medical student making contact with patients for the first time, along with the suggestion that’d he’d do well not to forget it.

Why Your Zip Code Matters When It Comes to Your Health

Why Your Zip Code Matters

When It Comes to Your Health

When it comes to health, your zip code may be more important than your genetic code says the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in a report released a year ago in April.  Beyond Health Care: New Directions to a Healthier America reports that poor Americans are more than three times as likely as Americans with upper middle-class incomes to suffer physical limitations from a chronic illness. And middle-income people can expect to live shorter lives than higher income people, even if they are insured. Where you live and how you live intersect.

As America marks the first anniversary of health reform, foes of the Affordable Care Act are determined to stop the ACA in its tracks before 2014, when a number of provisions are poised to roll out. Given the intersection between zip code and health, ending progress would be dangerous for the majority of Americans.

Highlighted Clip for Thursday, March 24, 2011:

"Beyond Health Care: New Directions to a Healthier America"

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to Build a Healthier America issued 10 cross-cutting recommendations for improving the nation’s health. According to the Commission, how long and how well Americans live depend more on where we live, learn, work and play than on medical care, which accounts for only an estimated 10 to 15 percent of preventable early deaths.

Health Care One Year Later: Keep Moving Forward

Health Care One Year Later: Keep Moving Forward

One year ago, President Obama signed the much needed Affordable Care Act (ACA), health care bill into law—a feat long talked about and attempted by others. So where do we go from here? Republicans threaten to repeal the bill, but in place of what? We need to build upon what we have to deliver affordable health care  to families and the uninsured who need it most. The idea of repealing this plan will only delay relief to those persons. We cannot stop the train to address the squabbles of a select few. Yes, the law requires further understanding and education but the worst action we can take is a step backward. Keep moving forward.

Highlighted Clip for Wednesday, March 23, 2011:

"The health care stalemate"

By Rachel Weiner

One full year after President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (aka the health care bill) into law, public opinion on it has been remarkably unaffected by the massive amounts of spin put out by both sides over the last 365 days.