Rationing won't result from better end-of-life care

The Tomah Journal
November 5, 2009

In response to the letter sent in by Rose Litkea, I’d like to make a distinction regarding end-of-life care and the quality-based medicine I have advocated.

Hospitals are currently reimbursed for the quantity of medicine they provide -- the number of tests and procedures they order --instead of the quality of care they provide...

...As much as $850 billion spent on medical care each year can be eliminated without reducing the quality of care, according to a 2008 report by the New England Healthcare Institute. This is money we could be saving, using to help our economy and pay back the deficit.

Link to Full Article: http://www.tomahjournal.com/articles/2009/11/05/opinion/05kind.txt