It Costs More, but Is It Worth More? - NYTimes.com

January 4, 2012

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Another link that I put on the VPCC Facebook page. You can go there and give

your opinion.

Should Medicare payment be tied to proof? Given the problems we have with

" proof " how could this potentially impact Medicare payments for prostate

cancer treatments? I have always been frustrated by the lack of " proof " for

prostate cancer treatments. While the discussion is focused on proton

treatment could/should it eventually be expanded to include other cancer

treatments? How many of our decisions are based on marketing information

from either companies or from patients who believe their treatment was the

" right " treatment? What type of pressure is put on medical practices or

hospitals to use expensive equipment to recover costs? Should the free

market be allowed to just keep spreading very expensive machines without

proof of efficacy? Is there the money to do the trials to prove who is the

most appropriate patient for a treatment?

Just a few of the questions I have. I am concerned about what is best for

the patient not the manufacturers/providers.

What are your thoughts? I believe that it is important for us to

think/discuss all these issues. If this becomes policy, how do we respond?

Kathy

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