Connections : Join the Conversation - The blog of Biomet CEO Jeffrey R. Binder
The blog will serve as a forum to share my thoughts on issues critical to us all and, more importantly, to provide you with the opportunity to engage in a discussion with me and your peers. I hope to initiate spirited discussions on everything from healthcare reform to new directions for medical technology.
The delivery of health care is going to change, perhaps dramatically, over the next few years. The challenges created by new regulations, health care reform, and economic conditions
We will also need to work together to educate policy makers and the public on the value of musculoskeletal care and on the positive impact all of us make on the patients that we mutually serve.
We believe that now is the time to talk about where we’re going. We hope you will be part of the conversation.
We have posted a video that explains in five minutes the key flaws in government health reform efforts to de-emphasize specialty care. The video is titled "Access Denied: The Approaching Shortage of Specialist Doctors."
How much does Medicare reimburse surgeons for common orthopedic procedures? Part II: Spinal Procedures
In response to readers’ comments, we are providing the second part of our report on physician reimbursement
As part of our advocacy on behalf of our customers and our industry, we find ourselves frequently visiting Washington, D.C. Biomet recently held meetings with the staff of three senators and three representatives, including in two instances the representatives themselves. Our message to the legislators focused on the importance of preserving patient access to specialty care (see my blog entry “Specialists Under Fire”) and the value of orthopedic surgery.
The hospital industry recently negotiated an agreement with the Senate Finance Committee and the White House to reduce hospital spending cuts by no more than $155 billion over 10 years. The agreement will no doubt result in hospitals applying additional pressure on suppliers to reduce pricing, including-and perhaps especially-medical devices such as orthopedic implants.
How much does Medicare reimburse surgeons for common orthopedic procedures? Part I: joint replacement and fracture procedures
Several readers commented on concerns regarding reimbursement and future patient access to specialists, prompting us to provide the following information on Medicare reimbursement for commonly performed joint replacement and fracture repair procedures.
Specialists Under Fire: Health care reform takes aim at the most highly-trained physicians
The Obama administration and Congress have clearly stated that their priority for healthcare reform is to expand access to care for uninsured Americans.
If they succeed, an additional 15% of the population will receive healthcare coverage, which will surely increase the demand for treatment. Policy initiatives should ensure that patients will have access to the doctors who are best equipped to provide treatment.
President Barack Obama, in his press conference of July 22, 2009 stated that the key to controlling U.S. healthcare costs is to allocate resources based on the effectiveness of treatment. While we have some concerns about how the government will measure value, it is hard to argue with the president's position.