Column: Fixing The Failure At Physician Compare

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, January 27, 2011

In his latest Kaiser Health News column, Michael Millenson writes:  “The launch of Medicare’s Physician Compare website at year-end should have been a watershed event in the long campaign for health care transparency and patient empowerment.  Instead – and it pains me to write this – Physician Compare is a case study in how the interests of the average citizen can be shunted aside by indifferent government, lazy journalists and solipsistic special interests.  That remains true despite all of those involved being Good People Trying To Do The Right Thing” (1/27).  Read the column.

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Today’s Datapoint

AIS’s Health Business Daily, January 28, 2011

27%…of Medicare beneficiaries experienced adverse events in hospitals in 2008, contributing to 180,000 deaths, according to a recent report by the HHS Office of Inspector General.

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Survey Says:  Most Small Businesses Support Repeal of Health-Care Reform (excerpt)

AOL Small Business, January 24, 2011

Most of the business owners cite cost as the major factor in their dissatisfaction, with nearly half (47 percent) of those who currently provide health insurance considering eliminating it due to its high cost.  (A word of warning:  It will be especially hard to hold on to valuable employees if you ditch their health coverage.)  On the other hand, 69 percent of business owners say it’s hard to find affordable health care for themselves and their employees.

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GOP Focuses Health Law Attacks During Two House Hearings (excerpt)

Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, January 27, 2011

The Hill:  GOP Aims To Scrap Medicare Board, Calling It Soviet-Style ‘Central Planning’ 

Continuing their attack on the healthcare reform law, Republicans…introduced a bill that would eliminate a new advisory board with power to set Medicare rates.  The bill, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.), would repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which starting in 2015 will advise Congress on Medicare payments.  Republicans and a handful of Democrats have opposed the board because they say it invests too much power in a panel of 15 unelected bureaucrats (Millman, 1/26).

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New CMS IACS/PS&R Website

January 25th, 2011 http://news.hfssoft.net/newscom.php

“CMS now has a website to better service providers using IACS to access PS&R.  CMS wants providers to visit the new website instead of immediately contacting the IACS help desk regarding PS&R registration or access issues. 

The website is located at:  www.eushelpdesk.com

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