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Why the Obama health care law gets an "F" grade from the Dean of Harvard Medical School

11/18/2009

The failure to replace the "fee-for-service" system in favor of capitated payments is cited as one of the main reasons. The other reasons are it does not resolve the issues of introducing competition in quality of care and cost, and continues the practices that disguise the true cost of care with a highly fragmented system of care. In a op-ed, Jeffrey Flier, Dean of the Harvard Medical School, gives a detailed account for the reason for his grading. A poorly drafted or incomplete law says Flier can make things worse, citing the example of the health care law in Massachusetts which is driving up costs, as it does not change the old dysfunctional system's key features such as "fee-for service," and instead tries to build a new system on broken foundations. Pearlstein in the Washington Post says the Obama health care law has addressed the "fee-for-service" problem, but this is really not the case, and Flier's reasoning may be the clue to the deeper problem for the Obama health care law.

Linked Articles

Steven Pearlstein: Eat your broccoli, Justice Scalia - The Washington Post

Washington Post 04/01/2012

Steven Pearlstein, Steven, Pearlstein

Health 'Debate' Deserves a Failing Grade

Wall Street Journal 11/18/2009

Jeffrey S. Flier, Jeffrey, S., Flier