Comments on: Why the American NICE Will Not Be Like the British NICE http://covertrationingblog.com/stifling-medical-progress/why-the-american-nice-will-not-be-like-the-british-nice Healthcare Rationing in America Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:58:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Guiac http://covertrationingblog.com/stifling-medical-progress/why-the-american-nice-will-not-be-like-the-british-nice/comment-page-1#comment-3873 Guiac Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:13:51 +0000 http://covertrationingblog.com/?p=366#comment-3873 You certainly hit the nail on the head. The other aspect of this will be a few well designed "comparative research" studies more or less designed to help prove that conventional(cheaper) therapy is as effective as more expensive surgical options. As you've pointed out before in this blog and as our friends at PLOS like to point out repeatedly trials can certainly be constructed to favor certain outcomes, specially if the desired outcome is no significant benefit. This will be the technique to help minimize if not eliminate some of the more expensive surgical options out there right now(esp. spine surgeries I suspect). I wonder if surgical options will be allowed for patients refractory to conventional therapy of for those subgroups that might derive benefit - somehow I doubt it. At any rate I have long suspected that the government is essentially going to accept a high rate of immediate deficit spending to try and curb medical growth in the long run - which will only be accomplished by styming the developed of new technologies. You certainly hit the nail on the head. The other aspect of this will be a few well designed “comparative research” studies more or less designed to help prove that conventional(cheaper) therapy is as effective as more expensive surgical options. As you’ve pointed out before in this blog and as our friends at PLOS like to point out repeatedly trials can certainly be constructed to favor certain outcomes, specially if the desired outcome is no significant benefit. This will be the technique to help minimize if not eliminate some of the more expensive surgical options out there right now(esp. spine surgeries I suspect). I wonder if surgical options will be allowed for patients refractory to conventional therapy of for those subgroups that might derive benefit – somehow I doubt it.

At any rate I have long suspected that the government is essentially going to accept a high rate of immediate deficit spending to try and curb medical growth in the long run – which will only be accomplished by styming the developed of new technologies.

]]> By: Praveen http://covertrationingblog.com/stifling-medical-progress/why-the-american-nice-will-not-be-like-the-british-nice/comment-page-1#comment-3685 Praveen Thu, 24 Jun 2010 00:16:03 +0000 http://covertrationingblog.com/?p=366#comment-3685 Good post Dr. Rich. I would note that even if the Dems' health plan doesn't put a real NICE in place, our soaring budget deficits will probably soon do so. I feel compelled to share the link to an article related to this that I recently wrote: http://truecostblog.com/2010/04/23/the-end-of-government-subsidized-medical-innovation/ I am actually happy at the thought of a strong American NICE making tough decisions and ending government-subsidized medical research. We Americans pride ourselves on being Capitalists, but health care innovation has not been subject to the tough realities of the market since the advent of Medicare. I welcome the day when the endless kitty of government money is gone, so that entrepreneurs can attempt to innovate health care solutions that are both effective AND cost-effective. Though you have documented instances in which the government attempts to squelch private-pay medical care, I think it will live on in the end, in some form. And solutions which fall below the QALY-line of the American NICE will still be innovated. Good post Dr. Rich. I would note that even if the Dems’ health plan doesn’t put a real NICE in place, our soaring budget deficits will probably soon do so.

I feel compelled to share the link to an article related to this that I recently wrote:

http://truecostblog.com/2010/04/23/the-end-of-government-subsidized-medical-innovation/

I am actually happy at the thought of a strong American NICE making tough decisions and ending government-subsidized medical research. We Americans pride ourselves on being Capitalists, but health care innovation has not been subject to the tough realities of the market since the advent of Medicare.

I welcome the day when the endless kitty of government money is gone, so that entrepreneurs can attempt to innovate health care solutions that are both effective AND cost-effective.

Though you have documented instances in which the government attempts to squelch private-pay medical care, I think it will live on in the end, in some form. And solutions which fall below the QALY-line of the American NICE will still be innovated.

]]> By: Rich http://covertrationingblog.com/stifling-medical-progress/why-the-american-nice-will-not-be-like-the-british-nice/comment-page-1#comment-3617 Rich Wed, 23 Jun 2010 17:27:22 +0000 http://covertrationingblog.com/?p=366#comment-3617 Yep. Choices are much easier to make when there aren't any. The real outrage over the direction of US healthcare reform should be by citizens of countries that have benefited from cost shift enabled development. Yep. Choices are much easier to make when there aren’t any. The real outrage over the direction of US healthcare reform should be by citizens of countries that have benefited from cost shift enabled development.

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