Legal Commentary

Health Care Bill: What's In It For Us?

By Jeralyn

CBS has a wrap-up of what's in the Health Care Bill and when the various provisions take effect. The Daily Beast has a good recap of both what's in it and what's not in it.

Here's the House Summary of the reconciliation bill. Here's a summary of the Manager's Amendment. And here's a summary of the actual bill. [More...]

I'd like to know more about this provision:

Encourages reimbursing health care providers on the basis of value, not volume. The bill includes a number of proposals to move away from the “a la carte” Medicare fee‐for‐service system toward paying for quality and value while reducing costs for America’s seniors.

Is that the provision they say will reward doctors for successful treatments? Does it mean doctors won't get paid if they recommend a procedure for an elderly patient and it doesn't work? Won't that discourage doctors from recommending procedures for elderly patients that aren't a sure thing? I have no idea, but it's one provision that doesn't get much discussion.

Here's the text of the Senate Bill. Here's a timeline for implementation.

Clearly the bill helps those with pre-existing conditions. And more people will be able to get insurance. Those are really important benefits.

Is there anyone who will be worse off under the bill? I've said all along that I would be okay with paying more for premiums and non-covered care (which undoubtedly will happen between my age and the likelihood insurance companies will scale back the benefits in its high-end plans while not reducing premiums) if lots of other folks reaped the benefits. It's looking like that's the case. So I'm in favor of this health care bill. And I think it will be a boon to Democrats in the 2010 and 2012 elections.

Full post as published by TalkLeft on March 21, 2010 (boomark / email).