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To Cure Health Care, See This Doctor

Mayo Clinic boss could be reform's 'Petraeus'

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 20, 2009 10:25 AM CDT

(Newser) – To fix health care, we need a commander like Gen. David Petraeus: “a professional who can break through the political chaff and describe a strategy for reform that can unite the country,” writes David Ignatius in the Washington Post. He nominates Mayo Clinic CEO Dr. Denis Cortese, who’s already doing what the country needs: “providing high-quality health care at relatively low cost.”

So what does Cortese prescribe? First, he says, the president is too focused on health insurance reform. We need to reform the system itself, not universally impose the current, flawed model. And “stop obsessing” over the public option for now; we already have public options, like Medicare and Medicaid. Let’s fix these systems first, moving from the “fee-for-service” model to one that supports “delivering low-cost, high-quality care.”

President Barack Obama talks about health care during a town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colo., Saturday, Aug. 15,  2009.
President Barack Obama talks about health care during a town hall meeting in Grand Junction, Colo., Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Ed Andrieski)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
luluzz
Aug 21, 2009 9:58 AM CDT
I just want to see what their health reform consists of. Maybe someone like this could help Obama put his thoughts into discernible bullet points. What the hell is Obamas healthcare plan?? What is going to happen to seniors, the disabled, vets, people with very little income?? Just say it like it is please. It couldn't be that hard.
riffran
Aug 21, 2009 9:00 AM CDT
You need to do a little less bashing and do a little more looking...There is a program in Texas called Operation Lone Star. It's a joint task force of Military and State Guard, that goes to very underprivledged areas in Texas and gives out free medical care to thousands yearly....Texas is a GOP dominated state, the program was started by GOP minded people, passed by GOP legislature (a bipartisan effort but GOP dominated), signed into law by a GOP Governor, the Military in general is GOP minded country wide, the service is provided by VOLUNTEER gaurdsmen and women, who are predominately GOP in ideation.......and you say WE don't want to see change or help Americans? HA! you are just running off at the liberal playbook mouth
cornelison
Aug 21, 2009 6:08 AM CDT
The GOP will want to destroy his credibility because the "right" doesn't want anything to change. Good people see what happens to anyone who wants to help Americans.

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