Health Provisions Slipped into Stimulus Package

Published

Specializes in behavioral health.

unfortunately, health care has no easy answers. I don't believe that there is a solution which will make everyone happy all of the time. What I do know is that this system is not working and is about to go bankrupt. If we are dancing on the subject of 'liberals', my state recently became a conservative monopoly and the first action of business were plans to cut education and medicaid. So do you nationalize it and try and save money or just cut billions of dollars from who knows where? Obama just inherited a country nearing a fullscale depression less than a month ago. Give him a chance. Improvements are a process which will take years. His platform was change. People want change, but they are terrified of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.
my state recently became a conservative monopoly and the first action of business were plans to cut education and medicaid. .

How do businesses "cut education and medicaid"? These are functions of government, not private business.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg,.
"In addition, $400,000,000 shall be available for comparative effectiveness research to be allocated at the discretion of the Secretary of Health and Human Services (`Secretary'): Provided, That the funding appropriated in this paragraph shall be used to accelerate the development and dissemination of research assessing the comparative effectiveness of health care treatments and strategies, including through efforts that: (1) conduct, support, or synthesize research that compares the clinical outcomes, effectiveness, and appropriateness of items, services, and procedures that are used to prevent, diagnose, or treat diseases, disorders, and other health conditions; and (2) encourage the development and use of clinical registries, clinical data networks, and other forms of electronic health data that can be used to generate or obtain outcomes data: Provided further, That the Secretary shall enter into a contract with the Institute of Medicine, for which no more than $1,500,000 shall be made available from funds provided in this paragraph, to produce and submit a report to the Congress and the Secretary by not later than June 30, 2009, that includes recommendations on the national priorities for comparative effectiveness research to be conducted or supported with the funds provided in this paragraph and that considers input from stakeholders: Provided further, That the Secretary shall consider any recommendations of the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research established by section 9201 of this Act and any recommendations included in the Institute of Medicine report pursuant to the preceding proviso in designating activities to receive funds provided in this paragraph and may make grants and contracts with appropriate entities, which may include agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services and other governmental agencies, as well as private sector entities, that have demonstrated experience and capacity to achieve the goals of comparative effectiveness research"

It sounds like the same evidence based practice they been trying to teach us in our nursing programs. It doesn't say anything there to dictate the care people can get. It looks like when summarized to me: 1) Compare different treatments 2) Create a "internet" to compare research or assist data that could be useful in research.

Oh. I'm not hating on the poster who made "smart" choices to ensure they are insured, paid well, etc. I'm also a RN, I worked hard for where I got to. I took a home health job outside the hospitals because of poor working conditions ('I Quit' post for details..), and it didn't offer group insurance. I figured at 23 years old, I run, I lift weights, I don't smoke, I don't drink, I'm not currently on any meds I would have no problem getting individual insurance which my new employer did offer when you start. I started, I applied when they handed me the application. . and recently got a letter from Blue Cross/Blue Shield that I have been rejected. I have Ulcerative Colitis, a hereditary condition, (Why isn't this discrimination?). . . despite the fact that it's has been in remission for several years. I'm supposed to get yearly colonoscopies to remove polyps to check for cancer. I'm trying to decide what to do right now regarding this, do I go back to poor working conditions in my area, move, or wait until I have to have expensive ER 'primary' care?

I made many of the 'smart' choices such as career path etc, It just doesn't always work out in people's control. :twocents:

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

Meredith09:

Thank you!

It is confusing.

I think the Institute of Medicine has wasted time and money. They have also done useful research.

How about safe nurse staffing?

That would improve outcomes more than electronic medical records.

I think we are afraid the government will limit care as the insurance industry does.

We need a board of patients and nurses to oversee any new regulations.

Whether or not this does as the original opinion states it is NOT a good use of our money.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

To the best of my knowledge Congressman etc have to choose from the same benefit packages as other Federal employees in the FEHB plan.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Vents, Telemetry, Home Care, Home infusion.
I just wanted to say thank you to those of you who have taken the time to look up additional information pertaining to this discussion and post it here for the rest of us to read...when I have time I like to surf around and search for information, but when I don't it's a huge help to have it readily available on-site. :flowersfo

Some of us are just passionate healthcare junkies who get our daily jolt on healthcare activism + political action.

:D

Cheeper than beer and coffee these days...less calories too.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

621190.gif

The US does not have the timeliest access to care.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
How do businesses "cut education and medicaid"? These are functions of government, not private business.
.

Business was used in the sense of "priority" by the original poster.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Furthermore we have the greatest cost related access problems amongst our peers on the world stage.

694003.gif

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Myths and memes about single payer. Lt. Governonr McCaughey to put it kindly distorts the legislation.
Up Vote Up Vote ×

We spend far more and get less care.....

787443.gif

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Electronic Health records (which is what the stimulus provision is advocating despite the prevarications of Lt. Gov McCaughey) would help our health system perform better on the following metrics:

Schoen_ITL_cht_11-10-08.gif

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Join the Discussion