University of Michigan Health System Experts Available to Comment on Health Care Refo...( ANN ARBOR Mich. Jul...),Health

ANN ARBOR, Mich., July 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As the White House touts deals with health industry groups as solutions to pay for an overhaul of the nation's health care system, physicians and leaders from the top-ranked University of Michigan health system are available to comment on the reform efforts.

Please consider contacting these health professionals, who can provide expert commentary on health care policies.

John D. Birkmeyer, M.D., is a University of Michigan professor of Surgery and director of M-SCORE, Michigan's Surgical Collaborative for Outcomes Research and Evaluation. Dr. Birkmeyer can discuss health care reform's impacts on Medicare expenditures, claims data analysis and value-based purchasing strategies in surgery. He chairs the expert panel on evidence-based hospital referral for the Leapfrog Group, a large coalition of public and private health care purchasers.

Caroline S. Blaum, M.D., is the University of Michigan's associate chief of geriatric medicine and an associate professor for both internal medicine and at the university's Institute of Gerontology. She has extensively researched Medicare costs and has expertise in transitional care and services for frail and vulnerable senior citizens.

Richard C. Boothman is chief risk officer for the University of Michigan Health Systems and has implemented a pro active and principled approach to health system claims that quickly drew attention for successfully reducing claims and costs. He has testified before U.S. Senate committees and been active in health care reform research.

A. Mark Fendrick, M.D., i
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