Learning from South Africa
Several years ago I was fascinated by Dr. Atul Gawande’s discussion of ignorance and incompetence. He argued that we in healthcare are no longer ignorant. We know quite a bit about pathology, pharmacology, diagnostics, and various therapeutic techniques. On my visit...
Sustainable Universal Coverage
Last month CMS announced the results of the efforts of the Pioneer and MSSP (Medicare Shared Savings Program) ACOs for 2014. The headline made for compelling reading: Medicare ACOs Provide Improved Care While Slowing Cost Growth in 2014. This suggests that sustainable...
Golden Age of Medicare and Medicaid
Medicare and Medicaid are now fifty years old. I suspect they are the two programs that much of the healthcare establishment still loves to hate the most. Lyndon Johnson’s signing on July 30, 1965 of the Social Security Amendments of 1965, created two landmark...
Another Hurdle Cleared at the Supreme Court!
Thanks to the Supreme Court, healthcare reform has cleared another hurdle. At 10:21 AM yesterday, as I was writing this week’s letter a banner appeared on my screen: NPR:Breaking News–Supreme Court Rules Obamacare Subsidies Are Legal Just seven words but...
5 Years Later, ACA Is a Big Deal
Last month we passed a big milestone: the fifth anniversary of the ACA (Affordable Care Act). Barack Obama used 22 pens on March 23, 2010 to sign the most important piece of social legislation so far in this young century. If you have about seven minutes, you can hear...Case Study – Elizabeth Mcarthy
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