“WE DON'T HAVE A HEALTHCARE SYSTEM IN THIS COUNTRY, WE HAVE A DISEASE-MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.”

DR. ANDREW WEIL, FOUNDER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA CENTER FOR INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

The healthcare system often uses a “a fee-for-service” model of payment – government or private insurers pay a hospital or a physician every time a procedure is performed. So even well-intentioned doctors are incentivized to order more tests, see more patients, and do more procedures. Hospitals are encouraged to fill hospital beds and operate more frequently. Everyone in the system is encouraged to emphasize quantity over quality. If we can start reimbursing doctors and hospitals to keep patients healthy – or better yet – keep Americans from ever becoming patients, then we’ll see a rapid change in the way we give care.

What We Know
From the Web
Jun 16, 2013 New York Times

"Medicare Panel Urges Cuts to Hospital Payments for Services Doctors Offer for Less "

by Robert Pear
Full Article
Mar 3, 2013 Kaiser Health

Fixing America's Health Care Reimbursement System

by Brian Klepper
Full Article
Jul 12, 2012 Washington Post

In Massachusetts, an Accountable Care Organization that’s actually working

by Sarah Kliff
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May 21, 2012 The New York Times

A long view on healthcare: Think like an investor

by Gina Kolata
Full Article