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1/17/2007
The World is Flat...what about health care?
It’s impossible to summarize Tom Friedman’s best-selling tome, The World is Flat, in just a few words. Suffice it to say, the book diagrams the scorching pace at which the world has moved forward since the early 90’s, “flattening” the globe because of commerce that works – really works! - in spite of national or geographic boundaries.
Then I think of our same old health care systems – and the same old solutions being offered to solve them. Well, not the same old medical care. Medical treatments, pharmaceuticals – needless to say, these have changed by leaps and bounds. We’ve conquered disease after disease - and where we haven’t conquered the disease, we’ve staved off death.
It’s the health care payment system that’s at least as old as we post-World War II babies. A system stuck in the dark ages. Stuck in the dark ages in a high-tech “flattened” (to use Friedman’s metaphor) world, where prices on everything else are continuously pushed down and quality continuously pushed up.
In today’s global economy, Friedman demonstrates over and over that it’s the individual who must move himself up, must stay ahead of a rapidly improving learning curve. So too it must be in health care - in order to fix this tragically broken system, we must find a way to empower the individual.
Many health care proposals have come forward in Wisconsin – and will continue to come forward. The proposals are complex – and still, you and I must find ways to stay informed about them. The health of our families depend on it. The health of our state and of our country depend on it.
The Wisconsin Hospital Association has delineated guidelines to use to help evaluate health-care reform proposals. I’ve listed selected guidelines below.
- Wisconsin’s health care system must provide affordable coverage for everyone’s basic health care needs.
- Each health care stakeholder has shared responsibilities:
• Government must play a role in guaranteeing access to health care services for our most vulnerable populations, fully recognize the special costs of educating the health care workforce, promote transparency and adequately pay for health care services provided to patients covered by its programs.
• Individuals must share directly in the financial responsibility for covering the costs of their health care needs and engaging in behaviors that maximize their health care status. In addition, individuals must be prudent buyers of health care services, availing themselves of available information to purchase health care based on demonstrated quality and efficiency.
• Employers should offer a basic health care benefit to their employees. They should provide financial incentives for their employees to select the highest quality, lowest cost providers in their region and participate in programs and behaviors that support wellness and prevention.
The WHA piece is less than 2 pages – you may want to take time to read the full set of guidelines.
Tomorrow: Health care proposals before the Wisconsin Legislature
Thanks to Jim Hemes, Neenah Alderperson and Director of Community and Government Relations, Affinity Health System, for recommending a look at the WHA guidelines.
COMMENTS
I agree. One more thing to consider is the option of medical outsourcing to reduce costs. That will push US for more transparency.
Often equal or better quality from US trained physicians overseas with better nurse to patient ratios.
Todd (Thu Feb 01 16:17:23 2007)
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