Health Care Costs and the Domestic Budget

The Real Budget Defecit

[By Staff Reporters]

money1The Obama Administration has made comprehensive health insurance, and health care, reform a priority.

The goal is to transform the domestic health-care system so that it improves efficiencies, increases value and provides care for all citizens.

Current Situation

Recently, two important facts that all ME-P readers know, were re-confirmed:

  • Health-care costs are the key to the nation’s economic future.
  • The medical community agrees that great efficiencies are possible in how it is practiced.

Variations

It is well known that health-care costs vary across significant regions of the country, as well as hospitals and doctors within a region – even for patients with a same/similar diagnosis. This must end, according to the Director of the White House Office of Management and Budget [OMB]. Director Peter R. Orszag explained in a WSJ interview below, that practice variation is unnecessary and wasteful, and that evidence-based-medical practices and comparative-effectiveness-research is a good idea for all healthcare stakeholders.

The Baucus-Grassley Policy Options for Expanding Healthcare Coverage report is also included for your review and commentary.

Two New Reports

Wall Street Journal on May 15, 2009.

1. Link http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124234365947221489.html

2. Link: http://finance.senate.gov/press/Bpress/2009press/prb051109.pdf

Assessment

Once accomplished, it is hope that the nation will be on a sustainable fiscal path that builds a new foundation for our economy for generations to come.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated. Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

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Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com  or Bio: www.stpub.com/pubs/authors/MARCINKO.htm

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Product DetailsProduct Details

On HIT Cost Savings

Real or Imagined SolutionsUS Capitol

According to David M. Cutler, of the Center for American Progress Fund [CAPF] on May 11, 2009, health care will be the major challenge to the federal budget in coming decades. Rising health costs will account for nearly all of the expected increase in government spending relative to gross domestic product [GDP].

Healthcare Costs and GDP

Health care currently accounts for 16 percent of domestic GDP, and that share is forecast to nearly double in the next quarter century. Spending money on health care is not bad, but wasting money is very bad.

Link: http://www.americanprogressaction.org/issues/2009/05/health_modernization.htmlHIT

HIT to the Rescue

But, $600 billion might be saved over the next ten years, and $9 trillion saved over the next 25 years, if HIT initiatives are used; says the CAPF.

Assessment

Estimates suggest that a third or more of medical spending—perhaps $700 billion per year—is not known to be worth the cost. Wasting hundreds of billions of dollars on inefficient health care is a luxury the country cannot afford.

Conclusion

And so, your thoughts and comments on this Medical Executive-Post are appreciated? Feel free to review our top-left column, and top-right sidebar materials, links, URLs and related websites, too. Then, be sure to subscribe to the ME-P. It is fast, free and secure.

Link: http://feeds.feedburner.com/HealthcareFinancialsthePostForcxos

Speaker: If you need a moderator or speaker for an upcoming event, Dr. David E. Marcinko; MBA – Publisher-in-Chief of the Executive-Post – is available for seminar or speaking engagements. Contact: MarcinkoAdvisors@msn.com  or Bio: www.stpub.com/pubs/authors/MARCINKO.htm

Subscribe Now: Did you like this Medical Executive-Post, or find it helpful, interesting and informative? Want to get the latest ME-Ps delivered to your email box each morning? Just subscribe using the link below. You can unsubscribe at any time. Security is assured.

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