Morning Briefing
Summaries of health policy coverage from major news organizations
Marrying Health Care Cost Control Measures With Quality Improvements Raises Challenges
Consumers are demanding more transparency around healthcare costs, but there are limits to how much that information can help them make decisions and it could end up costing them more in the end. Price transparency has been a key initiative for the Healthcare Financial Management Association, which is holding its Annual National Institute this week in Orlando, Fla. The group established a task force on the issue in 2013. (Kutscher, 6/23)
In virtually every city and town in America there are men and women who can鈥檛 keep up with chronic illnesses like diabetes and congestive heart failure. In virtually every city and town in America there are also doctors and nurses who believe poverty, mental illness and addiction are at the root of the problem. (Gorenstein, 6/24)
The sickest and most expensive 5 percent of patients use about half of the healthcare dollars. Many wind up in the emergency room or the hospital again and again, because they can鈥檛 manage their chronic illnesses. Combine that with an environment where there are new financial incentives for doctors to find better outcomes, not simply provide service after service, and the landscape is ripe for this kind of innovation. (Gorenstein, 6/23)
