The WSJ had an op-ed last week on the incentives driving American medicine, provoking some thoughtful discussion.
Dr. Rob:
While I applaud the overall approach to the problem, I think there is an important component missing. It seems the main reason Mr. Goodman gives for innovation is to become more efficient (i.e. to save money). The primary focus of any reform, however, should be in that of value as opposed to savings. Saving money is a laudable goal as long as it does not happen at the expense of medical quality. But efficient bad care is still bad care. Any system that does not address the issue of quality misses half of the equation.
Robert Centor:
“We could reform the health system without developing an expensive bureaucracy. We could allow economic forces to help make the system more financially sound. This will require decreasing the importance of the insurance companies. This will require patients understanding the finances of medical care. This will require patients benefiting from fiscal prudence.”
