Donald Berwick target of GOP criticism

From the Boston Globe:

Republicans have opened an assault on the nomination of Harvard professor Donald Berwick to lead the huge agency that runs Medicare and Medicaid, calling Berwick an advocate for “rationing’’ health care…

But GOP lawmakers are becoming increasingly vocal in their attacks on Berwick, citing his support of controlling costs and his statements praising aspects of the United Kingdom’s national health system. They contend his positions show that he would seek to transform US health care into a tightly controlled system, reducing patient choices and delaying treatments.

That may be true but on other occasions Berwick has taken to opposite position of advocating for radical consumerism, suggesting that patients should be the decision makers in their own care and receive whatever care they want, whenever they want it.

It appears that Berwick has been talking out of both sides of his mouth on this issue, and that’s what should be worrying both Republicans and Democrats. Maybe as people try and pin him down during the confirmation process we’ll find out where he stands. It should be fun to watch.