New tool could be used to deny medical treatment Re: “To cut costs, health care needs far more info,” May 5
Paul Howard provides interesting commentary on the pros and cons of comparative effectiveness research in the United States. But he failed to address one of the most important issues: the potential use of CER results by the government to cut health care costs.
CER compares the effectiveness of different medical treatments to see which works best for most people. In a perfect world, this could help patients make better informed treatment decisions. But government could just as easily use CER results as an excuse to deny coverage for costlier treatments, just like the National Health Service does in England today.
Millions of patients would lose their choice in matters of their own health care, while doctors would take a back seat to government bureaucrats who are only concerned about cutting costs.
Let’s make sure we leave health decisions up to patients and their doctors.
Dr. Donald J. Palmisano
Former president, American Medical Association, and
spokesman, Coalition to Protect Patients’ Rights
NPR host’s double standard is showing
Re: “Where was Smiley when Shabazz N-worded Obama?” May 4
Kudos to Examiner Columnist Gregory Kane for pointing out the double standards of my favorite NPR TV host, Tavis Smiley.
Smiley’s attention to the “uncivility” of those with whom he disagrees, specifically those who are critics of President Obama, blinds him to the bigger picture that portrays his buds’ true incivility.
If you talk over people, you don’t have to say you’ve heard them. And if they aren’t heard, they don’t exist, at least in the World According to Tavis Smiley.
Katie Holland
Silver Spring
Obamacare will raise my medical deductible
I have discovered another tax increase in the health care bill passed last year that has gotten no attention in the media. In short, it is a tax increase specifically aimed at people with high medical bills, the very people the Democrats purport to be helping.
Section 9013 on Page 1,994 increases the threshold all taxpayers must get over before they can begin deducting medical expenses. In 2013, that threshold will increase from 7.5 percent of income to 10 percent. This reduces the deductible amount, thus increasing taxable income. In my case (low-middle-income, cancer bills last year), this provision would have cost me almost $300 last year.
I have never read anything about this tax increase. It’s totally contrary to Democrats’ claim that they intend to help the little guy.
Jeanne Babin
Mobile, Ala.
