Breaking: Late night talks bring agreement on one point re HC; focuses on incentivizing outcome

[grantcart]

One of the key elements of the final negotiations is the problem on how to change compensation incentives to move away from payment based on service to payment based on quality of care.

The agreement is that

. . .the Institute of Medicine would complete a study by September 2011 recommending changes in the current fee structure. The administration would have 45 days to submit the report to Congress, and it would go into effect unless Congress blocked it by the end of February 2012.

This agreement will have a significant impact on the future costs of medicare and could bring the US sytem closer to European systems that have more incentives for outcome than the US pay for service system. Ironically the involvement of so called blue dog Democrats could result in a more economically sound bill that is also more progressive.

House Democrats clearing one health care obstacle

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_CARE_OVERHAUL?SITE=VTBEN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Key House Democrats agreed Friday on steps designed to cut the growth of Medicare, clearing one of numerous obstacles blocking an early vote on health care legislation.

But even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi hailed the agreement as a "giant step forward" on President Barack Obama's top domestic legislation, leaders struggled without success to ease the concerns of moderate to conservative Democrats who have held up progress on the bill for a week. With the talks at a deadlock, a key committee chairman suggested an end run around the rebels.

At the White House, Obama met with senators in an attempt to speed completion of a bipartisan deal that has been under discussion for weeks.

The flurry of activity occurred as the administration and Democratic leaders fought back against the impression that the legislation was sputtering despite months of effort and negotiation.

Democratic officials in the House said late-night talks had produced agreement on changes in Medicare to try and reward doctors, hospitals and other providers for high-quality care. Critics argue the current system simply pays by volume - compensating providers regardless of whether additional medical procedures contribute to better health care.

This appears to remove a major problem that some conservative Democrats and some Republicans had with the current bill.


I may not understand the details very well but it seems to me that in this instance the Blue Dog Democrats point of changing the incentives of the health care system strenghten it and make it more progressive. I would be interested if those that are better informed about the nuts and bolts about health care agree.

[jefferson_dem]

1. But look at this - House healthcare talks break down in anger

House healthcare talks break down in anger
By Jared Allen, Mike Soraghan and Lauren Burke
Posted: 07/24/09 03:27 PM

House healthcare negotiations dissolved in acrimony on Friday, with Blue Dog Democrats saying they were “lied” to by their Democratic leaders.

The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting with their committee chairman, Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), saying Waxman had been negotiating in bad faith over a number of provisions Blue Dogs demanded be changed in the stalled healthcare bill.

“I’ve been lied to,” Blue Dog Coalition Co-Chairman Charlie Melancon (D-La.) said on Friday. “We have not had legitimate negotiations.

“Mr. Waxman has decided to sever discussions with the Blue Dogs who are trying to make this bill work for America,” Melancon said.

Although those Blue Dogs were supposed to be headed back into another meeting of the Energy and Commerce Democrats, their anger was visible.

If the two sides cannot reach an agreement, the only hope for passage of the bill in the House will be to go straight to the floor, an option leaders shied away from endorsing but said was an option.

But the Blue Dogs issued dire warnings to leaders contemplating that approach.

<SNIP>

http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/house-healthcare-talks-break-down-in-anger-2009-07-24.html

[ProSense]

3. CNN has the same headline, but

I see good news.

House Democrats splinter over health care

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- House Democrats split sharply over the issue of health care reform Friday as a key committee chairman said he would not negotiate further with party conservatives worried about spiraling medical costs.

"We're not going to let them empower the Republicans. I don't see any other alternative," said House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Henry Waxman, D-California.

Waxman's comments came shortly after a representative of a group of fiscally conservative House Democrats urged congressional leaders to slow the pace of health care deliberations.

[AuntPatsy]

6. the only good news today

[high density]

4. What a bunch of bitchy little crybabies

I keep hearing the same thing from the "Blue Dogs" as the Republicans. No no no no no.

[grantcart]

7. It looks like that they still have to sell the compromise

[wildflower]

2. I'll be interested to know if these means quality of care or results of care...

For example, if doctors would be rewarded for having patients with blood sugar or blood pressure under a certain number.

[grantcart]

5. My understanding is that there would be a fee that would be agreed

to treat a particular disease, early diabetes, for example.

If the doctor could treat the disease in a more preventative way then he would see higher profit.


Currently the doctor makes more money by providing more services, so that the sicker and more medical need the patient has the more the doctor bills.

[Wednesdays]

8. K&R

:kick: