Georgia Health Insurance 411

It seems Obamaman will push ahead with a desire to revamp health care in America as part of his budget proposals. According to the Washington Post, the President wants to start with Medicare and Medicaid.

Making policy changes in those programs — such as rewarding physicians who computerize their medical records or paying doctors for results rather than procedures–could improve care while generating long-term savings, expert say.

Computerization, or converting to EHR (electronic health records) is something that has been discussed for 20 years or so. There are numerous problems, not the least of which is compatibility in software and database programs.

And as we know, the internet is not secure making PHI (personal health records) a potential nightmare.

Paying doctors for results instead of procedures is nice in theory but has no practical application in our society. Much of the testing is redundant as a precaution against future litigation. If the government tells a doc you will not be paid unless your service generates a positive result then the doctor is torn between getting paid and protecting against future suits.

And just who decides if the care is effective?

If the government decides the treatment did nothing favorable is the patient then given a clear path to sue the doctor?

This is a slippery slope from which there may be no good answers.

And what happens if, as we have seen with PeachCare, the number of providers willing to see Medicare/Medicaid patients erodes even further? If you are covered by either of these programs and cannot find a doctor willing to treat you, then what?

This is a real can of worms.