Comments on: ‘Death Panel’ Statement Adds to End-of-Life Care Confusion http://blog.iowahospital.org/2009/08/11/death-panel-statement-adds-to-end-of-life-care-confusion/ A place for relevant news and insights about Iowa hospitals Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:38:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: wally winkler http://blog.iowahospital.org/2009/08/11/death-panel-statement-adds-to-end-of-life-care-confusion/#comment-1175 wally winkler Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:45:14 +0000 http://blog.iowahospital.org/?p=765#comment-1175 The "death panel" representation is just as ingenuous and misleading as the suppositions are that wellness, prevention, and electronic health records will save enough funds to pay for everything for everybody, or that a public plan will not lead to elimination of current healthcare plans or lack of choice. Both sides of the reform issue are distorting reality with little appreciation of the great healthcare we now have and that everyone wants, and little to no effort being made to actually identify cost drivers and deal with them, such as tort reform, new technology, new drugs, new services, and more enrollees in entitlement programs, etc. Without addressing "cost" issues, we can pass all of the "access" legislation that anyone cares to propose, and healthcare financing issues will only become worse and more difficult to deal with in the future. Reformers are attempting to replace the age old concept of insurance with an up front "prepaid plan" for everyone, and the working employee is the only source of funding for the prepayment of healthcare for everyone, through federal, state, and local taxes, premiums, copays and deductibles. See http://healthcarecosts-wwblogspot.com This is a limited source of funding contrary to what appears to be the legislature's view! Current reform proposals are not reform at all. They appear to be more of the same thing that has been happening for many years. IE. Lets have government plans that provide access, but do not pay cost and hope providers find some way to make up the government cost shortfalls. Only problem is that providers are running out of ways to accomplish this, and the public plan is likely to reduce/eliminate cost shifting which is the only mechanism left. No matter which side of the debate you are on, we do need to quit using exaggerated, misleading, and wishful thinking myths and get about the business of dealing with real costs, real reasons for the costs, and make some intelligent decisions about what we can afford, with input from consumers, providers, insurers, and our representatives. And in any case, there is no need to pass a healthcare reform bill in a matter of weeks or months just because of the desire to do so or a campaign promise. There are too many unintended consequences that could result from getting it wrong. The “death panel” representation is just as ingenuous and misleading as the suppositions are that wellness, prevention, and electronic health records will save enough funds to pay for everything for everybody, or that a public plan will not lead to elimination of current healthcare plans or lack of choice. Both sides of the reform issue are distorting reality with little appreciation of the great healthcare we now have and that everyone wants, and little to no effort being made to actually identify cost drivers and deal with them, such as tort reform, new technology, new drugs, new services, and more enrollees in entitlement programs, etc. Without addressing “cost” issues, we can pass all of the “access” legislation that anyone cares to propose, and healthcare financing issues will only become worse and more difficult to deal with in the future. Reformers are attempting to replace the age old concept of insurance with an up front “prepaid plan” for everyone, and the working employee is the only source of funding for the prepayment of healthcare for everyone, through federal, state, and local taxes, premiums, copays and deductibles. See http://healthcarecosts-wwblogspot.com

This is a limited source of funding contrary to what appears to be the legislature’s view!

Current reform proposals are not reform at all. They appear to be more of the same thing that has been happening for many years. IE. Lets have government plans that provide access, but do not pay cost and hope providers find some way to make up the government cost shortfalls. Only problem is that providers are running out of ways to accomplish this, and the public plan is likely to reduce/eliminate cost shifting which is the only mechanism left.

No matter which side of the debate you are on, we do need to quit using exaggerated, misleading, and wishful thinking myths and get about the business of dealing with real costs, real reasons for the costs, and make some intelligent decisions about what we can afford, with input from consumers, providers, insurers, and our representatives. And in any case, there is no need to pass a healthcare reform bill in a matter of weeks or months just because of the desire to do so or a campaign promise. There are too many unintended consequences that could result from getting it wrong.

]]> By: Citizens (and Congress) Should Stay Focused on Facts and Counter Health Reform Myths | Iowa Hospital Association Blog http://blog.iowahospital.org/2009/08/11/death-panel-statement-adds-to-end-of-life-care-confusion/#comment-931 Citizens (and Congress) Should Stay Focused on Facts and Counter Health Reform Myths | Iowa Hospital Association Blog Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:11:59 +0000 http://blog.iowahospital.org/?p=765#comment-931 [...] In recent weeks, as members of Congress have been addressing health care reform with their constituents many have erupted in a fury of misleading information and the emergence of new scare-tactics and buzz phrases like “death panels” that attempt to stall, stymie or completely derail progress on health care reform legislation.  Some members of Congress are even participating in this disinformation campaign by handing out partisan propaganda and making claims that the House bill contains a provision that gives the government authority to “pull the plug on grandma.” (see previous IHA post on this subject) [...] [...] In recent weeks, as members of Congress have been addressing health care reform with their constituents many have erupted in a fury of misleading information and the emergence of new scare-tactics and buzz phrases like “death panels” that attempt to stall, stymie or completely derail progress on health care reform legislation.  Some members of Congress are even participating in this disinformation campaign by handing out partisan propaganda and making claims that the House bill contains a provision that gives the government authority to “pull the plug on grandma.” (see previous IHA post on this subject) [...]

]]> By: Mike Templeton http://blog.iowahospital.org/2009/08/11/death-panel-statement-adds-to-end-of-life-care-confusion/#comment-920 Mike Templeton Tue, 18 Aug 2009 13:58:06 +0000 http://blog.iowahospital.org/?p=765#comment-920 In this ongoing debate, the facts are most important. Just like during the presidential elections, a lot of groups and individuals are speaking out and shouting, but all of it needs to be boiled down and reviewed before people take things to heart. In this ongoing debate, the facts are most important. Just like during the presidential elections, a lot of groups and individuals are speaking out and shouting, but all of it needs to be boiled down and reviewed before people take things to heart.

]]> By: cpbehne http://blog.iowahospital.org/2009/08/11/death-panel-statement-adds-to-end-of-life-care-confusion/#comment-811 cpbehne Wed, 12 Aug 2009 03:56:34 +0000 http://blog.iowahospital.org/?p=765#comment-811 Great article which expresses the truth and true need of end-of-life counseling. Healthcare is years away from proper reform in my opinion, but getting the facts out about reform options should be every providers and administrators duty, now and in the future. Great article which expresses the truth and true need of end-of-life counseling. Healthcare is years away from proper reform in my opinion, but getting the facts out about reform options should be every providers and administrators duty, now and in the future.

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