Medicare "quality index" local paper idiot writer. need help debunking.

[goodboy]

"the idea is to stop linking Medicare reimbursements to the number of patients seen and instead use a "quality index" to determine how much providers will be paid. In other words, bureaucrats will set reimbursement rates. What does this mean? Hint: It is expected to save Medicare $100 billion a year. What happens if your doctor learns that treating you doesn't fall under the "quality index"?

Is there any mention of a quality index?

http://theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/529477.html?nav=509

edited to clarify. more at link.

[goodboy]

1. What does that even mean? (nt)

[thunder rising]

2. ?? there was talk about rewarding doctors for getting it right the first time.

[goodboy]

3. Is that anywhere in the bill? (nt)

[goodboy]

4. I need a real answer...anyone? *nt

[madrchsod]

5. medicare already sets rates for most procedures

i have no what the quality index would be or how it would be measured


medicare just put this policy in place last year---medicare is no longer paying hospitals and surgeons for their mistakes. bed sores,bit and pieces left in you after they sew you up,and someone screwing up your medications, etc..

[izzybeans]

6. hapless idiots don't realize that bureaucrats always set prices

in every industry- private, public, for-profit, and non.

The bureaucrats in our government want to tie reimbursement to care quality. Bureaucrats in health insurance companies set reimbursement rates for reasons other than quality of care.

Bureaucrats in consumer companies calculate the laid-in costs of their products and figure in their acceptable margins to set prices.

No matter where prices are being set, it is a bureaucrat's visible hands working the market magic. Who would they like to set the prices? A flying spaghetti monster market god?

The only change being proposed is in how costs will be calculated. That change involves estimating whether the health care provider did a good job or not-incentivizing quality vs. quantity.

This is a good thing.

A couple of links that may help: http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/full/357/16/1573

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/889578.html