Health insurer suggests ways to save gov't $500B

[babylonsister]

Health insurer suggests ways to save gov't $500B

By ERICA WERNER
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A major health insurer says the government can save big money on health care by sending patients to cheaper, more efficient doctors, reducing hospital visits by the elderly and cutting down on unnecessary care.

Those are among 15 suggestions made Wednesday by UnitedHealth Group Inc., a Minnesota-based health management company that said the proposals could save $540 billion over 10 years, mostly through savings for the government's Medicare insurance program for the elderly.

snip//

Among the cost-savers United identified are:

-$166 billion by providing skilled nurse practitioners at nursing homes to manage illnesses and prevent avoidable hospitalizations;

-$37 billion by steering patients to physicians rated best on quality, efficiency and cost;

-$13 billion by cutting down on unnecessary use of advanced imaging technologies such as MRIs; physicians would have to receive prior authorization from a radiology benefit manager.

Stevens and Dr. Lew Sandy, United's senior vice president for clinical advancement, said the company had successfully used those techniques to drive down costs and promote quality care.

more...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HEALTH_OVERHAUL_INSURERS?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[Gormy Cuss]

1. I'll buy the notion that UnitedHealth has used these techniques to drive down costs but

I doubt that it resulting in better quality care.

[Triana]

7. "doctors have to get approval from a benefits manager" (ie: the insurance co) before a procedure?

You betcha it didn't result in better care. Quite the contrary.

The bastards have no business making such decisions. Those are for the doctor and patient to decide - not profiteering pigs called "insurance companies" or "health insurers".

Pfft.

[Oregone]

10. Thats pretty much exactly the opposite from what happens here...

...in this single-payer system. Doctors and patients don't have to beg the government to allow them to be paid for a procedure. Doctors and patients alike can have faith that a billable required surgery will always be paid for.

[Triana]

12. And that's exactly what type of system we need to have here...

...it's a damn lot better than the one we've got!

Every Canadian I've ever talked to about their Medicare system there liked it. (that's about 2-3 people) - and I saw the video posted earlier from Real News where they interviewed Canadians about their system. All were generally quite pleased with it - same as the people I talked to. No matter what the wingnut and for-profit insurance propaganda says, I know better.

Universal, single-payer health care is THE only thing that can be called "reform" in the US. Anything else - isn't.

[Oregone]

8. Exactly!

[DJ13]

2. How about we just cut out the insurance industry from health care

and allow people to see the doctor of their choice instead.

That will save far more than you're offering.

[Triana]

9. Heck yea. Put them out of the business of being middlemen between doctor and patient...

...what a disgusting racket.

[Triana]

3. "$13 billion by cutting down on unnecessary use of advanced imaging technologies such as MRIs"

"$13 billion by cutting down on unnecessary use of advanced imaging technologies such as MRIs; physicians would have to receive prior authorization from a radiology benefit manager." (!!!!!!!)


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. WRONG. WRONG. WRONG. THIS type of thing is exactly why "health insurers" need to GO.

Insurance companies nor ANY representatives thereof have DO NOT HAVE ANY business dictating what care patients receive or not. THAT IS THE DOCTOR'S JOB.

The best way "health insurers" (ie: healthcare pirates) can save gov't money is TO GO OUT OF BUSINESS AND GET THEIR ASSES OUT FROM BETWEEN PATIENTS AND DOCTORS - PERIOD.

:grr:

[babylonsister]

6. Exactly! That's adding to the problem, not solving it.

:grr:

[Cleita]

4. Boy is he in an ivory tower. The cheaper doctors or pill pushers are the

ones the elderly already see, not to mention hospital visits are usually for a few hours, seldom more than a day and most do not get adequate care as it is let alone cutting that out. I see them in our doctor's office all the time. You can tell from the emaciating and smells coming from them that they are getting no care at all other than what they can do for themselves.

They need to get themselves out of the business. Screw them.

[undeterred]

5. Everyone should volunteer to die 5 years earlier.

[Oregone]

11. Make it 10 years earlier and you will save a trillion. Case closed.

[droidamus2]

13. Two sided coin

Hey this is a two sided coin not one sided. We want the highest quality health care at the lowest possible price not just the lowest cost. To just aim in at lower costs (lower to who the patient or the damn insurance company?) by restricting care does not address the problem at all. This is the primary reason insurance companies should be eliminated from the health care equation. Their primary duty and focus is profits for the executives and the shareholders not providing for the best health care possible.

[Vinca]

14. I've got a suggestion on how we can save even more than that:

ELIMINATE BIG INSURANCE AS THE MIDDLE MAN.

[Cleita]

16. Yep. How are we going to make them do it voluntarily.

If I were Queen, they would be given an either/or proposition. Cut your overhead to 3%, take everyone with no additional premium. Cover them 100% with no co-pays, or, get out of the business.

[alstephenson]

15. "to drive down costs" = to increase profits.

Go to hell, United Health Group.

[Spazito]

17. Geez! Well, one can't say they are lacking in hubris!

To actually propose more of what is already part of the problem in US healthcare and think it is helpful, wow, just wow!

[Dappleganger]

18. Why don't they just lower costs??

The reason it costs so much to insure people is BECAUSE of the insurance industry being allowed to get away with soaring health care costs.

Cut them out and there's your savings!