By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    stress management for healthcare workers
    3 Tips For Healthcare Professionals: How To Stay Beautiful, Healthy, and Happy
    November 2, 2021
    importance of relaxing on the weekend for your health
    Importance of Relaxing During the Weekend for Optimal Health
    March 25, 2022
    LASIK Eye Surgery
    What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
    May 16, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    Ebola Chat
    The Healthcare Hashtag Project: #Ebola
    October 23, 2014
    Reframing Gun Control as a Public Health Issue
    January 12, 2013
    Healthy Hospitality — Smarter, Safer Dining Options
    February 6, 2015
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Ryan-Wyden Reflective of Western Approach to Medicine
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Business > Ryan-Wyden Reflective of Western Approach to Medicine
BusinessPolicy & Law

Ryan-Wyden Reflective of Western Approach to Medicine

Brad Wright
Last updated: December 26, 2011 5:56 am
Brad Wright
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

By now, it’s old news that Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has worked with Democratic Senator Ron Wyden to draft a bipartisan plan to “fix” the Medicare program. What is being proposed, essentially, is a system of “premium support”–the federal government would make fixed contributions to offset the costs of seniors purchasing insurance from an exchange of private plans, while the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program would remain an option for those who wanted to remain in it.

By now, it’s old news that Republican Congressman Paul Ryan has worked with Democratic Senator Ron Wyden to draft a bipartisan plan to “fix” the Medicare program. What is being proposed, essentially, is a system of “premium support”–the federal government would make fixed contributions to offset the costs of seniors purchasing insurance from an exchange of private plans, while the traditional Medicare fee-for-service program would remain an option for those who wanted to remain in it.

If this sounds a lot like the Affordable Care Act with a public option included, it’s because it is. If that didn’t fly before, why would it be seen as the ideal way forward for saving Medicare? It’s simple, the Democrats envisioned such a plan as a way of moving the health care system towards a system of managed competition or even single payer, while the GOP sees this as a way of moving Medicare away from single payer to a system of managed competition or even traditional private coverage. The problem is that, while it may mask some of the problem, it won’t solve it.

In Western medicine, there seems to be much more emphasis on treating symptoms rather than preventing or curing disease, and this, in my opinion, is the same approach taken by Ryan-Wyden. In theory, injecting competition into the Medicare market should treat the symptom of high health care costs. The problem, however, is that it won’t work. The symptom is a result of the underlying design of the health care system, by which I mean “fee-for-service reimbursement by third-party payers.” There is a mountain of evidence pointing to the fact that a single-payer system, in which the payer has no intention of generating a profit, is the least expensive option for the design of a health care system. Moreover, there is ample evidence that capitation or global budgeting is far less costly than fee-for-service. Those are the elements that need to be introduced into the health care system to start cutting health care costs. Moving Medicare from single-payer towards an exchange of private payers will make it more, not less, difficult to make those changes. Without addressing the underlying “disease,” we will have no choice but to seek out new compromises in an attempt to treat the “symptoms” or else be left to suffer with them.

More Read

In Medicare Advantage, providers are becoming payers
US FTC Commissioner Doubts Benefits of ACOs
Left Behind: Will Cutting Medicare Hurt Seniors?
An iPhone App for Medical Checklists?
What You Should Understand About Medical Negligence

 

TAGGED:health reformhealthcare costsMedicareRyan-Wyden
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
Health
May 15, 2025
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction heart treatment
Dr. Klaus Rentrop Shares Acute Myocardial Infarction
Cardiology
May 13, 2025

You Might also Like

Dying in America? Bureaucrats Care

October 16, 2014

Medicaid Stops Paying for Non-ER, ER Care

February 29, 2012
American health care
Health ReformPolicy & LawPublic Health

The “Deep State” in American Health Care

November 12, 2013
BusinessHealth Reform

Pay for Performance Attacks Medical Quality: Lincoln Lucks Out

July 8, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?