Thread by topher.
Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a legal opinion Monday that could pave the way for greater restrictions on the state's abortion clinics.
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"The state has long regulated outpatient surgical facilities and personnel to ensure a certain level of protection for patients. There is no reason to hold facilities providing abortion services to any lesser standard for their patients. Even pharmacies, funeral homes, and veterinary clinics are regulated by the state," [Brian Gottstein said. Brian Gottstein is the spokesman for Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli]
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"This means fewer women are going to be injured and fewer children in future childbirths will be injured. that's what it means," [State Rep Bob] Marshall said.
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(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Thread by me.
Well, I couldn’t get away to Wyoming without casting a little light on a revealing NYT. On one hand, it castigates critics of Donald Berwick–for, among other things, accusing him of promoting rationing for the USA. It’s all fear mongering, don’t you know. But, we need rationing! From the editorial:
Republicans are also eagerly, and shamefully, pillorying Dr. Donald Berwick, the new head of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. There are few figures who command greater respect for uniting health professionals and institutions to improve the quality of medical care while reducing costs. That is not stopping these critics from implying — baselessly — that he will introduce socialized medicine and death panels in this country.
The truth is that Dr. Berwick has praised the socialized British health care system, especially for its emphasis on primary care. This country certainly needs to do more to develop its primary care system. And he has, rightly, called for an open discussion of the health care rationing that is already widespread in our system. When insurers decline to cover procedures, or high prices screen out low-income people, that is rationing.
Dr. Berwick has endorsed the use of “comparative effectiveness” research to determine which treatments work best. He would use such research to judge whether a new drug or procedure is worth the cost of coverage, a step the reform law shies away from. He does not have the power to change that law. But the issue will have to be addressed at some point if there is to be any hope of restraining medical spending.
How dare those anti-rationers pillory a rationing advocate who understands we need rationing! Hilarious.