Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result--Einstein. Here is the projected growth in US health care spending:
According to CMS, the growth in U.S. health care spending is projected to be 6.1 percent in 2008 and reach $2.4 trillion. However, the growth in health care spending is projected to slow to 5.5 percent in 2009. Nevertheless, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), CMS projects that health care spending will increase to 17.6 percent in 2009 (from 16.6 percent in 2008). CMS also expects for health care spending to reach $4.4 trillion and comprise 20.3 percent of GDP by 2018.
Stop paying for disease and start paying for health.
Health care savings in US by bringing Cesarean section rate into compliance with WHO recommendations: $1.5 billion *a year.*
ReplyDelete# of European countries using midwives for over 75% of births that have higher mortality rates than the US: 0
Cost savings if midwifery care were used for 75% of US births: $8.5 billion *a year.*
Health care cost savings by extending midwifery care and demedicalizing births: $13-20 billion/year
Source: Marsden Wagner, MD
Let's also cut out amnio and make women pay for it themselves if they want it, as well as alpho-feroprotein tests. A lot of women get these who wouldn't even abort, so completely unnecessary cost. And cut the unnecessary sonos (most are) or make parents pay.
There, at least $13 billion a year easily saved.
alpha (typo)
ReplyDeleteThen why are all the docs I know taking a pay cut?!
ReplyDeleteI'm all for promoting preventative services and encouraging healthy lifestyles. I recommend it every day to my patients. Stop smoking. Exercise more. Lead a healthy lifestyle. I have counseled so many patients I sound like a broken record. Here is an interesting delima. Eventually all of the healthy old will get even older and eventually the aging process will catch up. You can't avoid the father time for ever. Unless you are one of the lucky ones to pass in your sleep at the age of 110, what do we then do with the new age centarians? Grandma was healthy at 98 because she exercised everyday and never smoked. But when she turned 100, everything started to go downhill. How do we now counsel these patients about end of life after they have lived such a healthy lifestyle. By promoting healthy lifestyles, are we just delaying the inevitable health care expenditures. Do we really need to be focusing on end of life expectations and health care realities in advanced age. Who is to make the decision. The patient, family, physician, society? I have heard some people say that unhealthy lifestyles reduce health care expenditures because people actually die earlier and use fewer healthcare resources in the long term. Maybe medicare will start handing out free packs of cigarettes to reduce long term costs?
ReplyDeleteHappy Cardiologist