More that 42 million Americans age 65 or older who have disabilities receive Medicare benefits. The problem with this is that for the past years health care expenses have soared. This in tern has caused the federal spending dedicated to Medicare to rise dramatically. Many policymakers agree that Medicare must be reformed if it is to remain solvent. With the "baby boom" generation reaching retirement the program is expected to run out of money early in the century unless reforms are implemented. The goal is to do this and still regulate and ensure the quality of care that Medicare patients are receiving. The way things are now doctors get paid based on their quantity of services not the quality of those services. In 2006 legislators approved a new "pay-for-performance" system that would allow Medicare to pay doctors a 1.5 percent bonus for providing good quality services. Supporters of this want Medicare to reward doctors and hospitals for doing a good job. Opponents of this policy say that the policy undermines doctors' autonomy and judgment in treating their patients.I would have to agree with those that object to this piece of legislation. Doctors dont need to be payed more to do their job. It their responsibility to treat patients. They take an oath that they will do this in their practice. I believe that doctors shouldn't need a financial incentive to provide quality care to their patients. At any other job the person would be fired it they said they wanted more money to do their job well. So why should we do that for doctors. After all we entrust them with the most precious thing we possess, our own live. I agree with Representative Pete Stark when he said federal officials "do not have the capability, the understanding, the knowledge, or the training" to set standards for the quality of medical care
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