A dramatic shift in US healthcare policy

Dr. Wayne Iverson, San Diego physician and candidate for the US House of Representatives in the California 52nd Congressional District, today commented on the surprise announcement from Washington, D.C. "The abrupt resignation of Don Berwick as the head of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) signals a dramatic shift in this nation's healthcare policy." The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law in March of last year as the Obama Administration's efforts combined with a highly partisan 111th Congress attempted to gain full US government control over private health and medical care in this country. Donald Berwick was handed the top spot in the Medicare Administration during a Congressional recess because of his interest and expertise in government-controlled single-payer healthcare systems. This appointment circumvented Congress, which could have blocked the appointment because of the controversial provisions contained in PPACA. According to Dr. Iverson, "as Berwick vacates this post so goes the Administration's plans for government-mandated universal healthcare coverage."

Obamacare has been unraveling in recent months as the nation does a reality check on the practical aspects of what such massive changes in healthcare will cost and what it will do to the traditional patient-doctor relationship. Already, key provisions in the new healthcare law have been declared unconstitutional in both a lower court and appeals court. The US Supreme Court last week consented to review whether Obamacare is constitutional and should be allowed to go forward as written or be canceled out in its entirety. Dr. Iverson said, "the changes at the highest level of the Medicare Administration indicates to me that a solid case for repealing PPACA by the US Supreme Court appears to be inevitable."

Dr. Iverson went on to say, "Congress needs to continue making progress to get American healthcare back on track. The legislature needs to quickly pass a bill that provides for the immediate and complete removal of the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) provision in Section 1848 of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997. On January 1, 2012, SGR automatically forces an additional 27.4% cut in healthcare benefits to seniors by reducing payments to physicians." The cut Dr Iverson mentioned is in addition to the automatic 2% cut which is a result of the failed efforts of the controversial Super Committee formed in August when the US debt ceiling was increased under massive protests across the country. According to Dr Iverson, "Congress can continue to do the important work of the legislative branch of the US government by preserving our seniors' access to their physicians and medical care. The people's Representatives need to do the work they were voted into office to do. Protecting our nation's seniors and their healthcare with repealing SGR is in line with that duty and obligation."