Medicare to Play Big Role in Health Care Overhaul

by Administrator 26. April 2009 03:37
By Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar / Associated Press - Senators and leading health care experts say that Medicare will become the test lab for changes aimed at making the overall health care system less wasteful.

The new approach for seniors will stress close follow-up care by doctors and nurses. It's hoped that will keep chronically ill patients from having to be hospitalized over and over.

Democratic Sen. Max Baucus of Montana says that Medicare is going to be "the driver" for quality improvements throughout the health care system because private insurers follow Medicare policies.

Baucus is chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which began work on Tuesday on a bill to cover the uninsured and to restrain health care costs. 

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John Rothbarth is the owner of the St. Louis Times, a media company focused on serving the informational needs of the St. Louis metro-area aging baby boomer/60+ population. The company publishes the St. Louis Times Resource Guide, St. Louis Times Express, and hosts St. Louis Times Funfest and St. Louis Times Geriatrics Symposium events. The company was founded in 1994 and has remained true to its original mission of 'doing some good for older adults and the professionals who work on their behalf.'

Since 1994 the company has won over 20 National Media Awards. He has participated on many local Boards of Directors, all of whom cater to the needs of our area’s aging population. For 2009 he is also President of Breakthrough Coalition, a consortium of over 250 aging-focused organizations and  professionals dedicated to serving the needs of older adults in the St. Louis / Illinois bi-state area.

John is a native St. Louisan, father of two sons, and graduate of the University of Missouri - Columbia with a BS degree in Business Administration. His interests include reading mysteries, jogging, motorcycling, and aviation - he is a pilot with instrument, multi-engine and seaplane ratings.

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