Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Will Health Reform be Kind to Palliative Care?

Were I a betting person, I'd wager a princely sum on our getting within the next year a major reform of the health care system. Why am I so confident? Because the auto makers financial crisis will highlight the nation's health care cost issue. The "car czar" will make sure of it. And while the implications and ramificiations of "reform" will undoubtedly be wide-ranging, I've given to wonder what reform will mean for palliative care in general, and palliative medicine practices specifically. Mounting signs suggest that reform will be, indirectly, unkind to palliative care. In upcoming posts, I'll offer my take this subject. In the meantime, I invite yours.