Our own Dr. Sam Sannoufi did it, so why not every other doctor in this country? Why shouldn’t doctor’s be doing what’s best for the patient? Why do we become extremely skeptical when they get together on national television and pledge slow the growth of health costs by $2 trillion by drawing down the rate of cost increases in the sector by 1.5% each year? Maybe because we don’t trust it.
Dr. Sannoufi started the No Insurance Club with the patient in mind. He listened to what they needed, realized that the way things were going many of them wouldn’t be able to stay insured, and changed the way the system works.
This morning during President Obama’s Health Care Reform speech, a team of health-care industry groups which represent health insurers, hospitals, doctors and other health workers, told the world that the U.S. medical profession was going to change the way it did things. Do you believe them?
“There should be no skepticism of this as a voluntary effort,” said Jay Gellert, chief executive of Health Net Inc. (HNT) and chairman of the board of America’s Health Insurance Plans. “I think we believe that we can do it without undermining the viability of companies and in effect enhancing the payment to physicians and hospitals.”
How are they going to cut back costs? Well, those details seem to be a bit fuzzy still. Maybe that’s why there’s “skepticism.” But, if our own Doc can go out of his way to make his patients happy and keep them healthy, why can’t everyone else, right?
Still, it’s clear that the groups do not intend to let the cost-saving efforts come without new rewards for efficiency. Thomas M. Priselac, the chair-elect of the American Hospital Association, stated that “an important part of this will be appropriate incentives for physicians, hospitals and other care providers, which will also contribute to making the nation healthier.” – Wall Street Journal
There’s always a catch. Unless, of course, you become a part of our Club.
