Testimony on Comparative Effectiveness Research

Delivered Via Electronic Mail

Thank you for the opportunity to submit comments to the Council The most important factor concerning health care reform is that of reigning in health care costs Expanding coverage of the uninsured without controlling costs and improving efficiency would be shortsighted and dangerous to the US economy The efforts of the ThedaCare Center for Healthcare Value must be studied copied and expanded across the US ThedaCare, through its intensive mapping of health care services, has saved the health plan $22 million in its first year.

The Council should request a presentation by the center's director, John Toussaint and expand their mapping mechanisms nationwide through Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement incentives If plan's can demonstrate cost savings through the mapping process CMS could reimburse an extra 5% to those plans at the end of each fiscal year That way everyone wins, the patient gets better more efficient care with the same quality outcomes that ThedaCare can illustrate, the federal government and taxpayers save billions, and the providers save through the elimination of wasteful services while gaining the additional 5% reimbursement for serving Medicare and Medicaid eligible patients.

Mike Meulemans
Owner/Health Insurance Consultant
Write Resources, LLC