As part of the larger effort to overhaul health care, lawmakers are trying to address the problem that intrigues Mr. Obama so much — the huge geographic variations in Medicare spending per beneficiary. Two decades of research suggests that the higher spending does not produce better results for patients but may be evidence of inefficiency. Full Story »
Posted by Derek Hawkins
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The story shows how one poorly researched study can catch the attention of a politician and lead to proposals that are poorly considered.
Other potential reasons for disparate medicare costs: people without health care insurance delay procedures until they are under medicare; some ... More »
Dr. Berenson, who was a Medicare official in the Clinton administration, said, “There remains too much uncertainty about the Dartmouth findings to ground public policy on ... More »
This is a classic case of the journalist attempting to play neutral referee, and in doing so doesn't inform the reader about the strength of the positions taken by the various sides. If the New Yorker piece should be doubted, why doesn't the Times raise issues with the piece? If not, then why not present the seemingly cogent arguments from the New Yorker piece? (see links for info on the New Yorker piece)
“There is too much uncertainty about the Dartmouth study to use it as a basis for public policy,” said Senator John Kerry, Democrat of Massachusetts. “Researchers ... More »
Rather disjointed story about the differences in medical costs in different parts of the country. Hints at the relative contributions of primary care doctors vs. specialists twice, in rather different ways. No real analysis.
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