Government "efficiency"

I read in one of the op-ed pieces (don't remember which one) that pointed out that looking for ways to control costs are great, but, since the government already controls one nationwide medical insurance program (Medicare), why not use it as the "testing lab" for these great ideas (electronic records, primary care, etc)? Instead of inventing an entire new system with a few cost saving concepts that may or may not work, test the ideas on Medicare and if, they work, great, everyone will implement them.

Why not make it possible for Medicare eligible boomers to enroll electronically right now (most of our "non-competitive" private insurance companies already do it)? It's classic for the government to be behind the times: medicare eligible folks have to rely on snail mail to even get the enrollment form and then snail mail again to send it back to Medicare. Instead of testing a few ideas & concepts, though, the government instead relies on think tanks and 'sophisticated' advisors to come up with 1,000 pages of regulations when they miss the immediate opportunities to increase efficiency right now. We need a good dose of COMMON SENSE ideology right now.