From Dick Morris: Here comes medical rationing:
Now that the cameras have been put away and the media is no longer watching, their secret emerges: They are going to cut medical costs by cutting medical care. Right now, they cite four targets. They plan to:
1. Cut diagnostic imaging tests like MRIs and CAT scans.
2. Reduce the use of antibiotics.
3. Perform fewer Caesarean sections.
4. Cut care for management of chronic back pain
These decisions will not be medical but financial. They will not be based on a doctor’s opinion of what his or her patient needs, but a bureaucrat’s and an accountant s opinion of what the new health care system can afford.
Related: Obama's health care cost illusion. WSJ
Related: If you can save 30%, why not start with Medicare?
Related: Obamacare is like RomneyCare - sign up or get fined. Ace
Related: Neoneo suspects that they don't believe a word they are saying about costs, and I agree with that.
My opinion? I think much of medical "wasted spending" is to avoid lawsuits. "Please tell the jury, Doctor, why you didn't bother to get an MRI for Mrs. Jones' heachaches?" "Please tell the jury, Doctor, why you decided to do this when some recent studies show bla bla bla." In the end, "wasteful medical spending" is always the spending on somebody else - not on yourself.
While there's been much talk about Obama's move to 'nationalize' health care, others have been saying, "Fix Medicare first. Once you've shown us you can do that, then come talk to us about the rest!" I think that would...
Tracked: Jun 09, 12:47