Today’s Op-Eds: The GOP Agenda On Health Reform; Cutting Healthcare Costs; Rating Physicians and Hospitals
What The Next Speaker Must Do The Wall Street JournalA speaker's mission should not be to consolidate power in the speaker's office, but rather to ensure that elected officials uphold their oath to defend the Constitution and the American people we serve. The American people deserve a majority in Congress that listens to the people, focuses on their priorities and honors their demands for smaller, more accountable government. Accountability starts at the top, in the office of the speaker (Rep. John Boehner, 11/5).
The GOP's 2012 Game Plan The Wall Street Journal
The Senate GOP leader remains entirely open to working with the president, so long as Mr. Obama wants to "meet" the GOP on "spending and debt," the end of "job-killing initiatives," or issues like the stalled Korea trade agreement. After all, said Mr. McConnell at a speech at the Heritage Foundation yesterday, he doesn't "want the president to fail." He wants him to change. If Mr. Obama won't, there's always 2012 (Kimberley A. Strassel, 11/5).
Pull The Plug On Obamacare The Washington Times
Congress and the president need to start from scratch and craft a truly bipartisan health care reform bill. It should be the product of a genuinely deliberative and open process. Mr. Obama should not be afraid to put what he believes are the best aspects of his approach to health care to an honest vote (The Washington Times, 11/4).
Medicare And The Republicans The New York Times
Now that the campaign is over, Americans should demand that Mr. Boehner explain his plan for Medicare. Specifically: What will he do to "rescue" Medicare, without driving up the deficit or weakening the trust fund? (11/4).
Competition's Shortcomings In Curtailing Health-Care Costs The New York Times
The cost savings from economies of scale and the price discounts from the added market power enjoyed by larger insurers are apt to swamp, in most cases, any downward pressure on profit margins that might be had from a larger number of insurers. The widely held notion that more insurers in a market area will reduce the premiums paid by the insured is not supported by either economic theory or empirical research. (Uwe E. Reinhardt, 11/5).
Don't Rely Too Much On Doctor And Hospital Ratings U.S. News
As more reliable statistics about the quality of care provided by doctors and hospitals become available, it's important to consider what factors matter most to you as a patient. For example, clean bathrooms are nice, but most people would place a higher value on surviving the hospitalization and not needing to return after being discharged (Kenny Lin, 11/4).
New Health Law Promises Better Care For Chronic Conditions Des Moines Register
AARP as well as leading organizations representing doctors, hospitals, nursing homes and home health agencies agree the new health care law chronic care innovations will provide a blueprint for delivery systems reform that will reduce program costs and improve quality of care for millions of Americans with chronic care conditions on Medicare (Susan C. Reinhard, 11/5).
