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The Spectacle Blog

The Mystery of the $2 Trillion in Health Care Savings

By Philip Klein on 5.11.09 @ 2:58PM

Kathy Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services, just held a conference call with reporters in which I hoped to learn more details about how the health care industry plans to save $2 trillion in projected health care costs over ten years.

In her opening remarks, Sebelius struck the same boastful tone that President Obama did in his appearance earlier.

"This is not just a photo op and a meeting today, but the beginning of a collaborative partnership that can transform the health care system," she said.

But when it came time for questions, she could offer little in the way of details about the so-called savings.

One reporter wanted to know what the pharmaceutical industry would do to contain the rising cost of prescription drugs.

"Well actually today was not an opportunity to talk to each of the groups in the room about their specific plans, but what I can tell you is that they were all urged to and made a commitment to put together a very specific list and to report back," Sebelius said. "We didn’t have time at this morning's meeting to go around and get the top three or four things they're each going to do."

And later in the call, another reporter asked what would specifically need to happen for families to save $2,500 on their health care costs, a claim being touted by the administration.

"Well the discussion today was if we were able to achieve the significant success that the stakeholders today felt was very achievable, we're talking about cutting 1.5 percent out of the rising cost of health care, about $2 trillion over the next decade," Sebelius explained. "So, that would achieve the kind of individualized savings of $2,500 per family."

That's like saying, if I had a million dollars I'd be a millionaire.

The Obama administration continues to demonstrate its mastery of what Daniel J. Boorstin once called the pseudo event.

View all comments (5) | Leave a comment

runescape gold| 5.11.09 @ 9:46PM

Hi, interesting post. I have been pondering this topic,so thanks for writing. I'll probably be coming back to your blog. ...

johnmayer| 5.12.09 @ 5:26AM

If you are uninsured and does not have insurance, you should check out the website http://UninsuredAmerica.blogspot.com - John Mayer, California

TennesseeVolunteer| 5.12.09 @ 7:44AM

The Democrats are an ongoing comedy routine...They guy in charge of Recovery.gov which is going to display all of the transparency of the stimulus etc said he will have actual facts up on the site in only FIVE MONTHS, but it might actually take a year! But, they are really working hard! and this is the most transparent government in the history of the US! Blah, blah, blah.
We said a bunch of community organizers couldn't run anything, Sibelius and these incompetents that riddle this administration are living proof I've seen college fraternities and sororities have better organization. the purpose of this administration is to line the pockets of their contributors and then line the pockets of the the administrtion after they leave.
Clinton did the Saudi;s bidding(no drilling in the US) and they are lining his and Hillary's pockets with speaking etc. Wait till you see how rich the Pres becomes after he leaves office.

Lad Jelen| 5.12.09 @ 8:45AM

If the Government was REALLY interested in cutting health costs, they would promote the use of low dose naltrexone (LDN) for treating autoimmune diseases like arthritis, Crohn's Disease and MS. LDN is a low-cost generic
drug that has shown considerable success in treating autoimmune diseases. It could potentially replace expensive branded immunosuppressants and would revolutionize treatment, as it normalizes one's own immune response and has fewer side effects than aspirin.

Lad Jelen
Rittman, Ohio - Home of the Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery