5 ms·

One thing I've been thinking of lately is whether there are technologies that could fundamentally change the incentive structure of the US healthcare market to

by jbl 14y ago

One thing I've been thinking of lately is whether there are technologies that could fundamentally change the incentive structure of the US healthcare market to be more in line with patient interests. Are there technologies or attitudes or approaches that could make feasible new business models that would accomplish such a change? I don't know, but it's something that's been on my mind.

protomyth 14y ago
studying the process that resulted in https://questions.cms.gov https://questions.cms.gov could give you some insight into what makes up the health care costs of today. Lookup coding for a first look at why things are the way they are.
rogerbinns 14y ago
It isn't just individual patient interests but rather everyone. For example providing sporting facilities at schools and exercise/active activity facilities for everyone would do a lot to improve overall group health. Making cities more walkable would do a lot too. But right now my primary care doctor (who is most valuable to me) gets paid zero when I am healthy and more the more tests and procedures she does. Other specialists only get paid when I am referred to them. Drug manufacturers only get paid when their items are prescribed. Essentially compensation is based on consumption not on wellbeing which is why the system is so messed up. The US market definitely needs to be split into two. A baseline coverage that is based on wellbeing, effectiveness and does take price into account, done by the government available to all residents. It is easiest to gather the money via taxes (which already happens to a large degree) and to provide the actual care via combinations of government employees/facilities and contractors. And a top up private system where the people who want to pay for or provide gold plated coverage and procedures can do so (in addition to the base). Most countries have different systems which amounts to running experiments in effectiveness and efficient. Heck worst case just do what the French do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France
- Evbn 14y ago
  Your primary care doctor does not get paid for tests and procedures. Labs and specialists do.
ippisl 14y ago
Are there technologies that give advantages to large groups of doctors over small clinics or make it preferable to doctors to create large groups ? Large groups have access to a large pool of customers so they can offer different business models. Are there technologies that enable medical "self-service" or less dependance on doctors ? I think medicare has started a "fee for package" program(instead of paying for services, you pay for a complete treatment around a single medical event - let's say knee surgery + including all services - for a single fee). Are there technologies that can help such implementations ? Are there any technologies that can help places more receptive to medical change(like africa[1])? with time the experience gained there could be integrated in other places. How can you make medical tourism a more popular choice or better choice? if it would be popular , more insurance companies would offer it and would pressure the medical establishment for improvement.

by jbl 14y ago

protomyth 14y ago

studying the process that resulted in https://questions.cms.gov https://questions.cms.gov could give you some insight into what makes up the health care costs of today. Lookup coding for a first look at why things are the way they are.

rogerbinns 14y ago

It isn't just individual patient interests but rather everyone. For example providing sporting facilities at schools and exercise/active activity facilities for everyone would do a lot to improve overall group health. Making cities more walkable would do a lot too. But right now my primary care doctor (who is most valuable to me) gets paid zero when I am healthy and more the more tests and procedures she does. Other specialists only get paid when I am referred to them. Drug manufacturers only get paid when their items are prescribed. Essentially compensation is based on consumption not on wellbeing which is why the system is so messed up. The US market definitely needs to be split into two. A baseline coverage that is based on wellbeing, effectiveness and does take price into account, done by the government available to all residents. It is easiest to gather the money via taxes (which already happens to a large degree) and to provide the actual care via combinations of government employees/facilities and contractors. And a top up private system where the people who want to pay for or provide gold plated coverage and procedures can do so (in addition to the base). Most countries have different systems which amounts to running experiments in effectiveness and efficient. Heck worst case just do what the French do http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care_in_France

Evbn 14y ago
Your primary care doctor does not get paid for tests and procedures. Labs and specialists do.

ippisl 14y ago

Are there technologies that give advantages to large groups of doctors over small clinics or make it preferable to doctors to create large groups ? Large groups have access to a large pool of customers so they can offer different business models. Are there technologies that enable medical "self-service" or less dependance on doctors ? I think medicare has started a "fee for package" program(instead of paying for services, you pay for a complete treatment around a single medical event - let's say knee surgery + including all services - for a single fee). Are there technologies that can help such implementations ? Are there any technologies that can help places more receptive to medical change(like africa[1])? with time the experience gained there could be integrated in other places. How can you make medical tourism a more popular choice or better choice? if it would be popular , more insurance companies would offer it and would pressure the medical establishment for improvement.