Interesting assessment of Obama and Ryan's Plan for Medicare.

I agree with this assessment
http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2011/04/15/paul-ryan-medicare-reform-hocus-pocus/?section=money_topstories

Obama's plans for medicare

Obama seeks medicare savings but rejects the GOP's plan
Read more here:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-13/obama-embraces-debt-panel-ideas-shuns-ryan-s-medicare-plan.html

HHS..announces "Partnership for Patients.

"Paternship for Patients" is a new initiative that aims to reduce to number of patient getting sicker as compared to the 2010 levels and to increase the number of patient that heal without complication by 2013. It was formed by The department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in partnership with leaders of major hospitals, employers, physicians, nurses, and patient advocates along with state and federal governments in a shared effort to make hospital care safer, more reliable, and less costly.

For more information see the links below:
http://www.healthcare.gov/center/programs/partnership
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/04/20110412a.html
http://www.cms.gov/DemoProjectsEvalRpts/MD/itemdetail.asp?itemID=CMS1239313

HHS releases plan to curb Health Care Disparities

A great start:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/04/20110408a.html

In the news this week:Acountable Care Organizations

The new ACO rules will be profitable for some, not all, the article below from Kaiser news talks about the gains and risks for Doctors and hospitals.

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2011/March/31/ACO-rules.aspx

The rules hope to guide Doctors and Hospital to better corporate and care delivery at a cheaper price.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2011/03/obama-administration-offers-rules-to-guide-hospitals-doctors-toward-more-cooperation.html#

By offering incentives such as allowing providers to keep a percent of the cost saved, medicare is hoping to get more providers to sign up.

I think this program is good start as it will allow better coordination of care for the patient which will lead to improved health, and lower health care costs.