Comments on: The RUC’s Record: Backing Primary Care http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2009/06/24/the-rucs-record-defending-primary-care/ The Policy Journal of the Health Sphere Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:04:42 -0500 hourly 1 By: Careful What You Wish For | The Incidental Economist http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2009/06/24/the-rucs-record-defending-primary-care/comment-page-1/#comment-29853 Careful What You Wish For | The Incidental Economist Fri, 21 Aug 2009 08:13:52 +0000 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/?p=1469#comment-29853 [...] Rebecca Patchin, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Medical Association wrote on the Health Affairs blog that CMS is under no obligation to follow the RUC’s recommendations and she cites examples where [...] [...] Rebecca Patchin, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the American Medical Association wrote on the Health Affairs blog that CMS is under no obligation to follow the RUC’s recommendations and she cites examples where [...]

]]> By: korrico http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2009/06/24/the-rucs-record-defending-primary-care/comment-page-1/#comment-26301 korrico Sun, 05 Jul 2009 23:33:26 +0000 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/?p=1469#comment-26301 I take considerable exception to the comments of Mr. Weems regarding the RUC; particularly those putting the blame for the poor state of primary care at the feet of the RUC. I also find it appalling that he and other health policymakers continue to vilify specialty care, while at the same time deifying primary care. If you had a brain tumor or debilitating spinal disease that needed neurosurgery, would you be so quick to make the same statements? Would you not place a high value on the skill of your neurosurgeon? Would a primary care doctor be able to help you with these problems? Perhaps the reason medical students do not choose primary care is not simply because it is paid less, but because it is not as interesting and challenging as other medical specialties? Perhaps the reason why neurosurgeons and other specialists get paid more is because it takes them longer to train than primary care doctors. Perhaps it is also because they work far more hours and assume far greater risk than primary care doctors. Perhaps it is because their malpractice premiums are astronomical in comparison to primary care physicians. I would hope that in the future, Mr. Weems and other policymakers will think twice before dismissing the value of specialty care and those that provide it. We need all kinds of physicians in this country to take care of our every aging population, not just primary care physicians. Katie Orrico, Director Washington Office American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congressof Neurological Surgeons I take considerable exception to the comments of Mr. Weems regarding the RUC; particularly those putting the blame for the poor state of primary care at the feet of the RUC. I also find it appalling that he and other health policymakers continue to vilify specialty care, while at the same time deifying primary care. If you had a brain tumor or debilitating spinal disease that needed neurosurgery, would you be so quick to make the same statements? Would you not place a high value on the skill of your neurosurgeon? Would a primary care doctor be able to help you with these problems?

Perhaps the reason medical students do not choose primary care is not simply because it is paid less, but because it is not as interesting and challenging as other medical specialties? Perhaps the reason why neurosurgeons and other specialists get paid more is because it takes them longer to train than primary care doctors. Perhaps it is also because they work far more hours and assume far greater risk than primary care doctors. Perhaps it is because their malpractice premiums are astronomical in comparison to primary care physicians.

I would hope that in the future, Mr. Weems and other policymakers will think twice before dismissing the value of specialty care and those that provide it. We need all kinds of physicians in this country to take care of our every aging population, not just primary care physicians.

Katie Orrico, Director Washington Office
American Association of Neurological Surgeons/Congressof Neurological Surgeons

]]> By: Health Care. (united health care, universal health care) » Blog Archive » The RUCkus Continues: Former Medicare Administrator Calls the "RUC Process" "Incredibly Flawed," and the AMA Chair Says He’s "Inaccurate&q http://healthaffairs.org/blog/2009/06/24/the-rucs-record-defending-primary-care/comment-page-1/#comment-26192 Health Care. (united health care, universal health care) » Blog Archive » The RUCkus Continues: Former Medicare Administrator Calls the "RUC Process" "Incredibly Flawed," and the AMA Chair Says He’s "Inaccurate&q Fri, 26 Jun 2009 01:05:31 +0000 http://healthaffairs.org/blog/?p=1469#comment-26192 [...] Association (AMA), wrote a response to the Weems interview. (Amazingly, the response appeared as a blog post on the Health Affairs [...] [...] Association (AMA), wrote a response to the Weems interview. (Amazingly, the response appeared as a blog post on the Health Affairs [...]

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