Private Sector, not Public Policy, Holds the Key to Healthcare Reform — Really?…

Christopher Helmrath, MBA “The Private Sector, not Public Policy, Holds the Key to Better Healthcare" featuring Christopher Helmrath MBA turned out to be as much an infomercial for his investment firm as a discussion of healthcare reform in America. I do not dispute Mr. Helmrath’s investment tip that healthcare is a “good bet.” And I … Continue reading Private Sector, not Public Policy, Holds the Key to Healthcare Reform — Really?… →

Navigating Payment Reform – NEJM Catalyst

Harvard Business School and New England Journal of Medicine Catalyst group convened a webinar on “Navigating Payment Reform for Providers, Payers & Pharma” on November 2. Presenters admirably fulfilled Dr. Dafny’s challenge as convener to be transparent about goals, attuned to new ideas, open to trade-offs, and unafraid of failure. From the perspective of General Systems … Continue reading Navigating Payment Reform – NEJM Catalyst →

Real Tax Reform: Cutting the Healthcare “Excise Tax”

Politicians in Washington have been wrangling over healthcare and tax cuts since January 2017 (really, since 2009). They got a couple of things right. First, they realized that health spending amounts to an 18% excise tax on all economic activity; that’s how much of GDP we currently spend on healthcare. And that’s where real “tax … Continue reading Real Tax Reform: Cutting the Healthcare “Excise Tax” →

Segment 7 – Healthcare Power, Politics & Philosophy

This segment reviews preconditions for having a focused discussion of healthcare reform necessitated by powerful vested interests, and it discusses how to overcome political polarization. In the first six Segments, we have reviewed the relentless growth of healthcare spending. And how rising costs are literally built into the system as it is now. This review … Continue reading Segment 7 – Healthcare Power, Politics & Philosophy →

Segment 6 – Why Healthcare Cost is a Problem

This segment reviews the impact of relentless increase of U.S. healthcare spending on the economy, politics and society. In Segment 4, we showed some statistics on relentlessly rising healthcare spending. And in Segment 5 we looked at the Perfect Storm -- how rising costs are literally built into the system as it is now. In … Continue reading Segment 6 – Why Healthcare Cost is a Problem →