Bush’s 5 Points

Making Health Care More Affordable and Accessible for All Americans | White House Release | 5.1.06

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The President Has Five Key Policies To Make Health Care More Affordable And Available For All American Families

1. Expand Health Savings Accounts (HSAs). {see here & here}
2. Increase Transparency.
   • To get the best quality care for the best price, patients need to know in advance what their medical options are, the quality and expertise of doctors and hospitals in their area, and what their medical procedure will cost. HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt is encouraging leaders in the health care industry to post their “walk-in” prices to all patients, and the President has directed HHS to make data on Medicare’s price and quality publicly available on the Internet. The Administration is also asking insurance companies to increase health care transparency by providing their negotiated prices and quality information to their enrollees – and the Federal government will do the same.
   • To Help Spur This Transparency Revolution, The Administration Will Require Transparency From Insurance Plans Participating In Federal Programs. Beginning this year, the Federal Employees Benefits program and the military’s Tricare system are asking contractors to provide price and quality information. The President is also asking hospitals and insurers to make information on prices and quality available to all patients, increasing transparency without the need for legislation {because legislation will be added} from Congress to require transparency by law.
3. Apply Modern Information Technology.
   • Too many doctors’ offices and hospitals have the most advanced technology of the 21st century but still use last century’s filing systems for managing medical records. A nationwide information network will protect the privacy of a patient’s medical information while making health information available in real-time. We are making good progress toward the President’s goal that most Americans have an electronic health record by 2014.
4. Enact Association Health Plans (AHPs).
   • Unlike big businesses, small companies cannot negotiate lower health-insurance rates because they cannot spread their risk over a large pool of employees. AHPs would allow small firms to band together across state lines and buy insurance at the same discounts available to big companies. The House has approved AHP legislation four times during the President’s Administration, and it is now time for the Senate to pass legislation that makes health insurance more affordable for small businesses.
5. Enact Medical Liability Reform.
   • The glut of frivolous lawsuits are driving good doctors out of practice and driving up costs by forcing many doctors to practice defensive medicine – ordering unnecessary tests and writing unnecessary prescriptions. The total cost of defensive medicine to our society is an estimated $60 billion to $100 billion per year, including $28 billion billed directly to taxpayers through increased costs of Medicare, Medicaid, VA, and other Federal health programs. Junk lawsuits are a national issue requiring a national response. The House has passed a good medical liability reform bill, and it is time for the Senate to act.

Does anyone see true savings of healthcare dollars in any of these policies? All have tremendous hidden costs in terms of making changes and compliance. What will “increased transparency” do to the “standard of care?”