The far-left Center for American Progress hosted a panel discussion on December 20, 2010 on Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) implementation issues.
For all of you senior citizens who remember President Obama saying all through 2009 and into early 2010 that you could keep your doctor and insurance plan "if you are happy with them," you won't hear this news from the near-left-wing AARP:
There's a big surprise on the way in 12 months, at the beginning of 2012. President Obama of course was technically correct; if you have Medicare, you keep Medicare of course. But Medicare differs greatly from what it is today. Jonathan Blum, Medicare/Medicaid Deputy Administrator, exlained how everyone who is not on Medicare Advantage will be put in an ACO, perhaps arbitrarily.
That's "only" 80% of us according to Blum. Medicare will likely assign you to an ACO according to Blum, apparently without consulting you.
Based on the panel discussion, the Medicare/Medicaid bureaucrats seem to be more concerned about getting comments from providers such as large hospitals (e.g., Mass. General). Such groups (I have no idea if Mass General is one of them) are already lobbying the government to be the designated ACO for certain "markets." And they seem to be dedicated to getting rid of "small" physician practices, whatever "small" means.
As for us seniors, all the bureaucrats want for you is to "change your behavior." I hope the doctor you have today and really like is a member of the ACO you're assigned to.
-- Dennis Byron