True health care reform has to be based upon 3 core parts of the health care system. The 3 pillars are healthy lifestyle reform, health care delivery/treatment reform, and health care payment reform. Each is vital to the success of any changes.
Life style reform is something that each of us controls. Our diets, our activity levels, and willingness to use preventive screenings. Over 60% of all Americans are overweight, 25% smoke, and 60% lead a sedentary lifestyle. Because of this, over 20% of medical costs are a result of these issues.
Health care delivery reform involves the coordination of our medical information and treatment strategies so that we eliminate duplicate and un-needed tests, while ensuring that our full medical records are available to all medical professionals when needed. A RAND study showed that 30% of health care spending is paid for duplicate or inappropriate care.
Health Care payment reform involves changing the way medical services are paid for, such that necessary “wellness”, and “sickness” prevention drive the delivery of monies, instead of the amount of treatments and tests. Physicians and hospitals are paid for each service and test they perform, so sometimes more test are ordered, especially as a precaution to avoid medical lawsuits from patients. Medical tort reform will help the latter, but a new payment scheme that rewards keeping patients healthy is needed for the former.
These cornerstones are the foundation of a solid health care system. Only by laying a solid foundation can we attack the cost components of health care inflation and wellness of the patient.
San Diego Health Care Review 