Comparative effectiveness research and the political firestorm
At the risk of being accused again of being a “liberal, shit-sucking scumbag,” I want to draw your attention to a column in today’s Washington Post, that bastion of Eastern liberal media elitism.
Business columnist Steven Pearlstein, clearly part of the vast left-wing media conspiracy, gives a thoughtful review of the controversy surrounding the “comparative effectiveness research”—largely enabled by IT—in the proposed economic stimulus bill now heading toward a resolution on Capitol Hill. Sure, he goes after some of the usual suspects, namely the pharmaceutical and medical device industries, but also explains why the proposal will not turn the U.S. into the British National Health Service.
He also portends the tough battle ahead to achieve comprehensive health reform in this country. If you think this legislation is contentious, wait until it’s time to tackle the Medicare payment structure.
Great Article here. What is most interesting to me is that the same people who are railing against the stimulus as mortgaging our future, also rail against the government taking any measures to contain the cost of healthcare. I suppose they didn’t get the memo that the biggest financial burden that we are leaving to future generations is actually resultant from the rising cost of healthcare.