Comments on: What Daschle Means for Health Reform http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/ Fri, 06 Jan 2012 08:23:22 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Metrics, Mistakes, and Opportunities for Growth | Demockracy http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-560 Metrics, Mistakes, and Opportunities for Growth | Demockracy Mon, 16 Feb 2009 04:16:14 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-560 [...] policy wonk, I found the developments with Tom Daschle the most disappointing developments to date. As I wrote here, I believed Tom Daschle would have been a perfect fit to get real health care reform... Granted, I write this before it is clear who Obama’s replacement choice may be, and this [...] [...] policy wonk, I found the developments with Tom Daschle the most disappointing developments to date. As I wrote here, I believed Tom Daschle would have been a perfect fit to get real health care reform… Granted, I write this before it is clear who Obama’s replacement choice may be, and this [...]

]]> By: Kevin Van Dyke, Editor http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-475 Kevin Van Dyke, Editor Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:27:14 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-475 Yes, you need to lower costs. See my previous article on the type of reform needed to meet the 6 IOM goals (which includes more efficient, cost effective care): http://demockracy.com/a-mandate-for-health-reform/ As I've argued before, this isn't a Democratic program or a Republican program. Everyone must sacrifice something here. As you astutely point out, coverage is only half of the solution, if that. We need care that is more efficient, patient centered, etc. I do a lot of work in quality and patient safety, and to be honest, we get nothing for what we pay for. Please read my other article on general health reform. After doing so, I'd be very interested in hearing your "non-democrat" solutions you have in mind. In other words, let's go beyond saying what's wrong and propose an alternative solution. What cost controls would you propose? More pay-for-performance? Negotiation with drug companies? More non-payment for never events? Limits on the medical arms race? Thanks much for your continued commenting on the site. It is much appreciated. Yes, you need to lower costs. See my previous article on the type of reform needed to meet the 6 IOM goals (which includes more efficient, cost effective care):

http://demockracy.com/a-mandate-for-health-reform/

As I’ve argued before, this isn’t a Democratic program or a Republican program. Everyone must sacrifice something here. As you astutely point out, coverage is only half of the solution, if that. We need care that is more efficient, patient centered, etc. I do a lot of work in quality and patient safety, and to be honest, we get nothing for what we pay for.

Please read my other article on general health reform. After doing so, I’d be very interested in hearing your “non-democrat” solutions you have in mind. In other words, let’s go beyond saying what’s wrong and propose an alternative solution. What cost controls would you propose? More pay-for-performance? Negotiation with drug companies? More non-payment for never events? Limits on the medical arms race?

Thanks much for your continued commenting on the site. It is much appreciated.

]]> By: Kishore Jethanandani http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-474 Kishore Jethanandani Sat, 03 Jan 2009 04:02:00 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-474 Sure you need somebody experienced to get the job done. My point is that access to health care can only increase if costs are lowered. There are zillion opportunities to do this in the US health care system. At this point, it is as bloated as it can get. The system does not have an in-built mechanism to lower costs. Daschle type "reform" will only redistribute resources leaving everyone unhappy. As the choice of therapies keeps on expanding, some costs have to come down to expand access. Like lower rates of smoking, obesity, competitive bidding, national insurance, greater use of IT, etc. The list is endless. The Democratic program lacks intellectual horsepower to succeed. Worse, its a brain-dead program. Sure you need somebody experienced to get the job done. My point is that access to health care can only increase if costs are lowered. There are zillion opportunities to do this in the US health care system. At this point, it is as bloated as it can get. The system does not have an in-built mechanism to lower costs. Daschle type “reform” will only redistribute resources leaving everyone unhappy. As the choice of therapies keeps on expanding, some costs have to come down to expand access. Like lower rates of smoking, obesity, competitive bidding, national insurance, greater use of IT, etc. The list is endless. The Democratic program lacks intellectual horsepower to succeed. Worse, its a brain-dead program.

]]> By: Kevin Van Dyke, Editor http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-457 Kevin Van Dyke, Editor Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:33:55 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-457 I agree with you Kishore that those were two of the "general" reasons (there were more general and nuanced ones as well) as to why Hillarycare failed. However, you admit that Daschle is not inexperienced. In addition, he gets along well with those across the aisle, which Hillary obviously did not. How is Daschle a continuation for the Clinton group from 1992? I understand that he is a Washington insider, but he was not part of the Clinton administration and seems to be the polar opposite of the Clinton group in 1992 according to your criteria (combative and inexperienced). I think you need someone with Hill experience in order to get something through Congress. It remains to be seen whether he can do this or not, but he's a better choice than most in my opinion. Who would you have preferred for this role? I agree with you Kishore that those were two of the “general” reasons (there were more general and nuanced ones as well) as to why Hillarycare failed. However, you admit that Daschle is not inexperienced. In addition, he gets along well with those across the aisle, which Hillary obviously did not. How is Daschle a continuation for the Clinton group from 1992? I understand that he is a Washington insider, but he was not part of the Clinton administration and seems to be the polar opposite of the Clinton group in 1992 according to your criteria (combative and inexperienced). I think you need someone with Hill experience in order to get something through Congress. It remains to be seen whether he can do this or not, but he’s a better choice than most in my opinion. Who would you have preferred for this role?

]]> By: Kishore Jethanandani http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Kishore Jethanandani Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:28:49 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-455 The key question is whether Clinton health plan failed because of her personality and inexperience in dealing with game changing initiatives or whether her plan itself was doomed. I would say the latter is the case. Dascle brings more of the same with more experience but that does not change anything. His plan is also doomed to fail. The key question is whether Clinton health plan failed because of her personality and inexperience in dealing with game changing initiatives or whether her plan itself was doomed. I would say the latter is the case. Dascle brings more of the same with more experience but that does not change anything. His plan is also doomed to fail.

]]> By: Miraj http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-414 Miraj Sun, 30 Nov 2008 02:16:02 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-414 let's hope you're right. my graduate funding is provided by a grant from the DHHS. funds have been seriously cut over the last 8 years, and we need to change that direction! let’s hope you’re right. my graduate funding is provided by a grant from the DHHS. funds have been seriously cut over the last 8 years, and we need to change that direction!

]]> By: Cabinet Rundown: AG, DHS, and HHS | Demockracy http://demockracy.com/what-daschle-means-for-health-reform/comment-page-1/#comment-400 Cabinet Rundown: AG, DHS, and HHS | Demockracy Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:13:04 +0000 http://demockracy.com/?p=2732#comment-400 [...] Tom Daschle is a great selection for this post. I wrote a lot about this selection yesterday. [...] [...] Tom Daschle is a great selection for this post. I wrote a lot about this selection yesterday. [...]

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