anyone under the bus. They're geared to propose changes in how Medicare operates, not who it serves. Access is not part of the review. In fact, reimbursement adjustments could increase access to Medicare by enlisting more providers to accept Medicare reimbursement.
The first study looks at rewarding medical outcomes, effectiveness of health care, not just volume of services rendered. The other looks to making long overdue adjustments to the regional patchwork of reimbursement levels to health care providers.
Changes in fee structures - what Medicare will cover - are sure to be hotly reviewed and debated before enactment, targeted for 2012. There's room for disagreement here, obviously. And the devil is in the details, which are far from being proposed.
The reimbursement adjustments would seem a less contentious issue. It's been a long time since Medicare reviewed its reimbursement levels in respect to regional cost of living and cost of doing business. Best case scenario here is expanding access to rural regions, currently saddled with low reimbursement rates. Enactment is targeted for 2014.
(from the article cited)
Democratic officials in the House said late-night talks had produced agreement on changes in Medicare to try and reward doctors, hospitals and other providers for high-quality care. Critics argue the current system simply pays by volume — compensating providers regardless of whether additional medical procedures contribute to better health care.
Under the agreement, the Institute of Medicine would complete a study by September 2011 recommending changes in the current fee structure. The administration would have 45 days to submit the report to Congress, and it would go into effect unless Congress blocked it by the end of February 2012.
Separately, lawmakers agreed to call for a second study by the Institute of Medicine to investigate regional differences in payments to Medicare providers, to be implemented in 2014.
Officials said the two steps combined were designed to control the steady increase in Medicare costs, although they provided no immediate estimates of anticipated savings.
Obama has said repeatedly he wants legislation to control the cost of health care as well as to expand insurance coverage to millions who now lack it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090724/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_overhaulAlso, the studies would be conducted by the Institute of Medicine, a branch of the National Academy of Sciences, not Medicare staff.
Their Mission Statement:
The Institute of Medicine serves as adviser to the nation to improve health.
Established in 1970 under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine provides independent, objective, evidence-based advice to policymakers, health professionals, the private sector, and the public. The mission of the Institute of Medicine embraces the health of people everywhere.
http://www.iom.edu/Their membership roster:
http://www.iom.edu/CMS/2951/16476.aspx?browseby=Last+Name&filterby=a