My Weblog

Increasing the value of Primary Care?

The General Accounting Office recently testified before the US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on the need to increase the value of Primary Care Professionals.  I haven't seen a report that lays out the problem of undervaluing primary care more clearly.  Read it at:

http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d08472t.pdf

Texas Medicare Manifesto

The battle to fix the broken Medicare system rages on.  The Texas Medical Association recently launched a new campaign called the Texas Medicare Manifesto to educate leaders and patients on what's needed to fix Medicare.  The Manifesto's key points include: 1) Fix the formula; 2) Put patients before insurance companies; and 3) Tear down the silos ( or balance the payment system between Parts A, B, C and D).

Check it out:  http://www.texmed.org/Template.aspx?id=6496

In December, Congress gave physicians a small Medicare increase and extended the program for six months, which means it will all come to head in June 2008.  Get ready, this is going to be a real fight.