us health care briefing 111209
On the homepage
Vikings
Out There
Pardon Board
Petters
Home | Politically Connected | National Politics | In Congress
Health care issues: Controlling medical costs
Print this story
E-mail this story
Save to del.icio.us
Share on Facebook
Share on DiggMore from In Congress
A look at key issues in the health care debate:
THE ISSUE: How can Americans control medical costs without it leading to rationing of health care?
THE POLITICS: There's broad agreement that health care costs are too high and that if left unchecked, they could bankrupt the government, not to mention businesses and families. The $2.5 trillion the United States spends each year should be enough to provide quality care for everybody — even if that means fewer tests and procedures. But politicians of all stripes are reluctant to confront the public with that message. That means any health care overhaul may wind up adding to costs, instead of curbing them.
WHAT IT MEANS: Cuts in Medicare and Medicaid payments to service providers may only check costs temporarily. Prevention programs can sometimes cost more than they save because of the additional services provided to large numbers of patients. The key to controlling costs seems to lie in changing the economic incentives for hospitals and doctors, so that they focus on keeping patients well and preventing serious complications among those who are in poor health. Such a cultural change could take a generation to bring about, and many experts believe that although Congress' health care bills take some steps in the right direction, they don't do nearly enough.
_ Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar
Recent In Congress stories
Health care issues: US costs vs. other countries - November 12, 2009
Health care issues: US costs vs. other countries - A look at key issues in the health care debate. More
Congress set to pass economic package helping jobless, homebuyers - November 12, 2009
Congress set to pass economic package helping jobless, homebuyers - Congress is one vote away from sending the president legislation that continues aid to more than a million jobless people and extends tax breaks to hundreds of thousands of prospective homebuyers and struggling businesses. More
- Health care issues: What are GOP's reform ideas?
- Health care bill clears Senate hurdle, 60-39
- Tears and fears flood Congress on health care
- 1st Senate vote looms on health legislation
- Report: Rep Kennedy says RI bishop has told him not to take communion over pro-choice stance
- House Roll Call: Health care
- For Reid, Dodd, clout on big issues cuts both ways
- House Roll Call: How they voted on abortion issue
- Senator's affair revealed in text message
The Whistleblower blog has moved
The Star Tribune is still blowing the whistle, but our look and location have changed. Click here to get to the new blog. If you want the actual URL, it’s www.startribune.com/blogs/whistleblower.html. Our blog posts will now be easier to search on the web site, but you’ll need to register to post a comment. In the [...]
Recent posts
 Find Your Next HomeSearch realtor represented & for sale by owner homes in the Twin Cities. Plus, find open house listings. |
Win tickets to see Brett Dennen at Pantages Theatre.Vita.mn presents Brett Dennen with Grace Potter and The Nocturnals at Pantages Theatre on Nov. 27. |
Comment on this story | Read all 2 comments | Hide reader comments