President Obama has selected a highly regarded medical professional to step in as administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This individual “personifies Mr. Obama’s determination to shake up the health care industry” and so naturally he earns praise from the NYT…
Americans who are concerned about the pending government takeover of their health care services should know that top notch administrators will be in charge of the new bureaucracies that stand between them and quality care. This is the central message of a New York Times approach takes an uncritical look at Dr. Donald Berwick, “a health policy expert,” who is slated to become administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The Gray Lady is full of enthusiasm as are the Democratic officials who are quoted.
News reports on presidential nominees are often needlessly negative and filled to the rim with quotes from antagonistic special interest groups that fall back on ad hominem attacks without making any serious policy contributions. Judge Robert Bork and other Supreme Court picks come to mind.
Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.) and Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) are quoted here offering up praise for Berwick and this fine as far as it goes. But the report omits any reaction from the opposing party. Discerning readers would have good cause to view this as whitewash in light of how much authority Berwick will have.
“If confirmed, Dr. Berwick would carry out major provisions of the law expanding Medicaid, for low-income people, and slowing the projected growth of Medicare for older Americans,” The Times acknowledges.
But concerned citizens can rest assured because Dr. Berwick has the right ideology and hails from the Ivy League.
“Dr. Berwick, a pediatrician, is president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Mass., and a professor at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health,” the report notes. “He personifies Mr. Obama’s determination to shake up the health care system.”
So he’s golden as far as The Times is concerned.
Concerned Americans who remain on guard against further federal intrusion in the health care system would benefit from subsequent reports that take a hard look at nominees filling position that could directly impact their quality of life.
For now, they may need to shop somewhere else for that kind of reporting.
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