Notes from Eric July 6, 2011
Of mystery shoppers, country doctors, and a meeting with Bill Clinton
Last month, the federal government disclosed—then quickly abandoned—a plan to unleash “mystery shoppers” on 4,000 primary care practices across the United States. The goal? To see just how many providers refuse to take new Medicare and Medicaid patients.
The government dropped the plan after some professional groups cried foul. Although our country needs reliable information about access to primary care—especially for those on Medicare—reluctance to face hard facts prevailed. Why? Providers get more favorable reimbursement for privately insured patients than for those on Medicare on Medicaid. Mystery shopping might have revealed what federal surveys so far have not: Major problems with access. But the episode did highlight challenges our country faces in creating, and paying for, a more humane health care system.
I believe most Americans know what they want. Dr. David Loxtercamp articulated it a few weeks ago when he talked with Liane Hansen on NPR. A family physician and medical home advocate in Maine, he wrote the 1997 book, A Measure of My Days: The Journal of the Country Doctor. He told Hansen how the current predominant model of primary care is broken and American medicine is “on the verge of a great sea change.” He also outlined a new way
D. Cherkin
PhD
BREAKING NEWS
Massage eases low back pain in randomized controlled trial: Annals of Internal Medicine trial compared massage types at Group Health
D. Arterburn
MD, MPH
No fewer deaths in VA patients with bariatric surgery: Patients in Veterans Affairs study were older and higher risk
- Women find their own breast cancer as often as mammography does
- Group Health surgeons develop less-invasive surgery for hip pain
- Acetaminophen may lower babies’ post-vaccine symptoms—but caution is warranted
- Curbing overtreatment: Four ways to reduce harm from CT scans
- Cutting-edge insights: Little is known about tailoring depression treatment
Feature
Group Health findings on alternative therapies can guide patient-centered care
K. Sherman, PhD
D. Cherkin, PhD
Daniel C. Cherkin, PhD, and Karen J. Sherman, PhD, MPH, made headlines this week with their latest research on massage for back pain. Here, they reflect on their decade of investigating complementary and alternative medicine therapies, which have raised tantalizing questions for ongoing research and surfaced insights that conventional health care providers and systems can put into practice—today.
People and Programs
Dr. Reid represents Group Health at Bill Clinton job summit
National expert in physical activity Dr. Dori Rosenberg to join GHRI faculty
Dr. Von Korff presents on value of electronic health data in population research
Greene recognized as 2011 Data Harmonization Pioneer
EVENTS
GHRI scientific seminar
Tuesday, July 12, 4–5 p.m.: Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH: “Integrated Behavioral Health Care: Closing the Gap Between What We Know and What We Do.” Dr. Unützer is professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at UW and a GHRI affiliate investigator.
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Board of Governors public meeting
Save the date: Sept. 19-20 in Seattle. PCORI commissions research to provide the best available evidence for patients and providers. Congress created PCORI through the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. More information will be posted at PCORI.org.
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Suggestions?
Please send comments or suggestions to Joan DeClaire at declaire.j@ghc.org