Sound Medicine: Update on Health Care Reform

Show: June 28, 2009:

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Update on Health Care Reform

Air date: June 28, 2009

Host: Barbara Lewis

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Interview: Aaron Carroll, MD, MS
Associate professor of pediatrics
Director, Center of Health Policy and Professionalism Research
Indiana University School of Medicine

The battle over health care reform is coming down to two big issues: Should there be a publicly managed health insurance option? And how can the nation pay for reforms that include universal coverage?

The Senate Finance Committee is working behind the scenes on both right now, but has said that no legislation will be ready for a vote at least until after the July 4th recess.

Dr. Aaron Carroll directs the IU Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research and is the expert we turn to to help us navigate through what’s happening on Capitol Hill.

He discusses the practical aspects of reform in the works, including higher prices for taxpayers and differences in the way physicians are reimbursed.

Additional Resources:

The web site Organized Wisdom offers articles that address the pros and cons of health care reform.
Not everyone agrees that a national plan is best. From the Daily Dose blog.
Dr. Atul Gawande's June 1, 2009 New Yorker article, "The Cost Conundrum."