The Mayo Clinic, which President Obama has touted as a model for
the rest of the health care system, has delivered a
blistering critique of the House Democratic health care bill:
Although there are some positive provisions in the current
House Tri-Committee bill – including insurance for all and
payment reform demonstration projects – the proposed
legislation misses the opportunity to help create
higher-quality, more affordable health care for patients. In
fact, it will do the opposite.
In general, the proposals under discussion are not patient
focused or results oriented. Lawmakers have failed to use a
fundamental lever – a change in Medicare payment policy – to
help drive necessary improvements in American health care.
Unless legislators create payment systems that pay for good
patient results at reasonable costs, the promise of
transformation in American health care will wither. The real
losers will be the citizens of the United States.
Mary Katherine Ham has a good roundup of Obama's past
statements praising the Mayo Clinic.