Myth or fact: Berwick does not believe in rationing.
Fact: he does not believe in rationing. “I cannot imagine that a civilized, developed country is actually going to deny highly effective and humane care to its people, that we’re going to say to Americans, ‘Too bad, medical science has something that can help you but you just can’t have it.’” Don Berwick, plenary speech “Squirrel,” IHI’s 21st National Forum, 08 December 2009.
He goes on to talk about both giving everyone the care they need and spending less to do it — a solution based on health care whose focus is, in my words, “to enable people to lead the lives they want.”