tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post5032072594922385218..comments2024-03-26T00:25:34.026-04:00Comments on Not Running a Hospital: An inside view of the medical arms racePaul Levyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-69089280516082934872012-06-18T09:59:29.488-04:002012-06-18T09:59:29.488-04:00Six more stars, in fact, an increase of almost 50%...Six more stars, in fact, an increase of almost 50% in about a year and a half. Interesting to note, one center that was under construction is operational, while one seems to have vanished from the map. Was the facility converted into some different sort of treatment center, or is this an error on the web site?<br /><br />There are five new centers under construction (one of which was only in the developmental stage before) and two new ones being developed. Again, one of the former category, in the Miami area, seems to have been dropped. My read is that even with the enormous payout in reimbursement, these are capital intensive projects that hospitals can't always afford. A final note, there are now two centers overseas, one in Munich and one in Seoul, and I assume their charges are not being set by CMS. I wonder whether other countries are duplicating our pricing disparities, or if there is some other factor at work.Susannahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-13736229517343533102012-06-17T11:41:52.142-04:002012-06-17T11:41:52.142-04:00According to this:
http://www.proton-therapy.or...According to this: <br /><br />http://www.proton-therapy.org/map.htm <br /><br />The map shows a few more stars than the 2010 version.Thomas Panehttp://www.bsurgmed.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-38251043428174200442012-06-16T10:05:09.209-04:002012-06-16T10:05:09.209-04:00I haven't seen an update. Is there anyone out...I haven't seen an update. Is there anyone out there reading this who has?Paul Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-6070256693947795362012-06-16T10:03:42.065-04:002012-06-16T10:03:42.065-04:00As I am wont to say, "You can't make thes...As I am wont to say, "You can't make these things up!". Do you think they had any idea who they were inviting to speak? Thanks for the post, and the link to your realier one with the map of proton therapy centers, as I was just talking about them the other day to someone who thought there were decidedly fewer than are shown there. Do you know if anyone has updated that map since 2010, by the way?Susannahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-26878805560434804122012-06-16T09:57:14.786-04:002012-06-16T09:57:14.786-04:00Rick,
See Barry's and Nonlocal's comments...Rick,<br /><br />See Barry's and Nonlocal's comments above. Competition and innovation is one thing. This is an aberration brought about by a misguided government pricing policy.<br /><br />The fact that otherwise thoughtful CMS administrators have found it impossible (politically) to change the manner in which prices are set is an indication of the untoward political influence of certain interest groups in DC. Those interest groups are not guided by the public interest or clinical efficacy.Paul Levyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17065446378970179507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-30205252882026929612012-06-16T09:48:17.108-04:002012-06-16T09:48:17.108-04:00If you were to attend and speak, what would be you...If you were to attend and speak, what would be your message? My guess is that you see this arms race in part a result of competition for business among providers in the health care markets they serve. How do you see the trade offs financially (patient and payer cost) and in clinical improvement of the options of intense competition in a health care market vs. monopoly or oligopoly in that same market, particularly as they impact the arms race, the cost and quality of care, innovation in delivery including devices/equipment, and patient choice? Do you perceive one type of market dynamic preferable to others?Rick Borschuknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-34082018735439960742012-06-16T09:17:42.342-04:002012-06-16T09:17:42.342-04:00That's just a sad testament in so many ways.That's just a sad testament in so many ways.Neville Sarkari MD, FACPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096155690678788954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-45128895839528091932012-06-16T08:13:44.858-04:002012-06-16T08:13:44.858-04:00TAKE THE OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!TAKE THE OFFER!!!!!!!!!!!!e-Patient Davehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16381434866099596466noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-62384824534066991842012-06-16T08:06:03.590-04:002012-06-16T08:06:03.590-04:00I noticed that conspicuously absent from the list ...I noticed that conspicuously absent from the list of topics of interest are any mention of either clinical outcomes or cost-effectiveness vs. other treatment alternatives for prostate cancer. From a payer perspective, if it were up to me, I would use reference pricing that would pay for the least costly effective treatment no matter which course of treatment the patient and his doctor decided on. The difference in cost between the reference price and a more expensive treatment approach would have to be covered out-of-pocket by the patient, his family or a charity willing to pay on his behalf. Just because a new drug, device or treatment approach wins FDA approval doesn’t mean that taxpayers (Medicare and Medicaid) or commercial insurers should have to pay for it no matter how much it costs especially when there are less expensive alternatives available.Barry Carolnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32053362.post-12539573150443751652012-06-16T06:52:42.982-04:002012-06-16T06:52:42.982-04:00At least Wall Street doesn't use our tax money...At least Wall Street doesn't use our tax money to fund its excesses, but honestly, in a capitalistic society entrepreneurs go where the money is. So you can't really blame them.<br />The real question in my mind is why CMS falls for this. I would sure like to know what the process was that led them to pay so much for this unproven therapy - and others. Perhaps this is where we need to concentrate containment efforts.<br /><br />nonlocal MDAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com