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High level of waste in health spending, says medicare and medicaidboss by ferujkll sdff
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High level of waste in health spending, says medicare and medicaidboss |
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Dr. Donald M. Berwick, head of Medicare and Medicaid until last Thursday, stated that up to 30% of spending on healthis wasted with absolutely no benefit to beneficiaries (patients).He added that his agency's cumbersome and archaic regulations arepartly to blame. He claims too many resources and too much time isdedicated to things that do not help patients one bit; somethingdoctors are fully aware of too. In an interview last Thursday, Dr.
Berwick said: "Much is done that does not help patients at all, and many physicians know it." During the interview, Berwick talked about the previous 17 months,while he was at the helm as Administrator of the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid Services, his failures, successes andfrustrations, and dealing with criticisms from Republicanlawmakers. Berwick's appointment, which was to expire at the end of 2011, wasdone in a way that drew criticisms from both sides of the House.President Barack Obama nominated him in April 2010, then there wasan investigation regarding his qualifications, subsequently atemporary recess appointment was given to bypass Congress. In Thursday's interview, Berwick said: "I did not even know if I was fit for it. I came with an agenda. Iwanted to try to change the agency to be a force for improvement,covering one out of three Americans." Government is much more complex than he had realized Berwick went on to explain that the new health legislation is a "..complex and complicated" one.
It is a law that takes time to explain properly. "To understand it takes an investment that I'm not sure the man orwoman in the street wants to make or ought to make." He admitted that government is much more complex than he hadrealized. Berwick had been President of the Institute for HealthcareImprovement, an organization that trains health professionals; amuch faster-moving environment compared to public office. Being afederal official would sometimes infuriate him, because of the muchslower pace. Even so, because of the new law's ultimate destination, it shouldbe supported, Berwick stressed.
He gave the manned moon missions asan example - people did not fully understand the intricacies ofrocket science, but supported the ultimate aim of the mission. Dr. Berwick said: "We are a nation headed for justice, for fairness and justice inaccess to care. We are a nation headed for much more healing andmuch safer care. There is a moon shot here.
But somehow we have notput together that story in a way that's compelling." If up to 30% of Medicare and Medicaid's spending is beingneedlessly squandered, reigning in that waste could save between$150 billion and $250 billion annually. Dr. Berwick said: "I wish they (government) could go faster. I don't think you wantgovernment to be impulsive.
You want it to be regulated, with justa tad of conservatism." Berwick listed five reasons for the enormous waste in healthspending: Patients are overtreated There is not enough coordination of care US health care is burdened with an excessively complexadministrative system The enormous burden of rules Fraud Donald M. Berwick (born 1946) Dr. Donald M. Berwick, Administrator of the Centers for Medicareand Medicaid Services, July 7, 2010 - December 2, 2011 Dr. Berwick was nominated to be Administrator of the Centers forMedicare and Medicaid on April 19th, 2010.
Some newspapers at thetime commented that he might be able to reduce health care costs.He was criticized by Republicans regarding some comments he hadmade about health care, saying it involves a redistribution ofwealth, rationing care with "our eyes open". In the United Kingdom there is universal healthcare, everyone iscovered, and healthcare spending represents less than 7% of thecountry's GDP. The USA, on the other hand, spends over 17% of GDPon healthcare and has over 50 million people with no coverage atall, and tens of millions more with inadequate coverage. Berwickadvocated adopting some of the NHS (National Health Service)approaches of the UK and its NICE (National Institute for Healthand Clinical Excellence). NICE decides which therapies and drugsare covered by the NHS.
Conservatives dubbed him "Obama's rationing man." They said NICEdecides what treatments people can and cannot have in the UK. Thisis untrue - NICE decides which treatments and therapies people willget free (if NICE does not approve it, private health care canstill offer it, if it is approved by another national regulatoryagency, the MHRA, the UK equivalent of the FDA). Honors and Awards Dr. Berwick has received the following honors and awards: 1999 - Ernest A. Codman Award 2001 - Alfred I.
DuPont Award for excellence in children'shealthcare 2002 - American Hospital Association, "Award of Honor" 2004 - Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians in London 2005 - Honorary Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of theBritish Empire 2007 - Purpose Prize 2007 - The 13th Annual Heinz Award for Public Policy Written by Christian Nordqvist Copyright: Medical News Today Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today Additional References Citations. I am Handbags, Wallets & Purses writer, reports some information about seamless kids socks , baggy black jeans.
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