Labor unions and the healthcare industry are apparently looking to jump in the driver's seat to move major healthcare reform forward in 2009. News broke Sunday night that leaders in the healthcare industry say they'll support the Obama administration's goal of slashing $2 trillion dollars in spending reductions over the next decade. You can read more about it here, here and here.
What does this mean to you and your practice? Well, how these groups plan to curtail spending remains to be seen, as Congressional Quarterly reports:
"However, details were sketchy on Sunday. The administration officials said the groups were still working out exactly how they would reduce the growth of costs: they have set as a goal to achieve a 1.5 percent reduction in the growth of costs each year."
We'll keep you updated as we learn more.
Update: The groups mentioned above include -- the American Medical Association, the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the American Hospital Association, America's Health Insurance Plans, and the Service Employees International Union.