Ron Wince on the Key to Improving Healthcare
I was excited to be able to contribute a guest post on the Center for Health Transformation (CHT) American People’s Online Health Summit blog this past week. In my post (titled, “Ownership is the Key to Improving Health Care”) I talk about the need for new thinking and perspective as it pertains to health care reform.
The key to improving healthcare lies within the more effective collaboration between practitioner and patient. We need to shift the current model of focus to one that is consumer-centric, since we all refuse to pay for waste, unnecessary care, and aid those that perpetuate fraud and abuse.
However in order to equip patients with the necessary information that will allow them to more adequately own their healthcare situations, this will require better access to information, more education, and the ability of the patient to be able participate in the process.
I look forward to your comments and thoughts on my post. Please feel free to add them on the CHT post directly, or in the comment field below.
Read the Full Post: Ownership is the Key to Improving Health Care
Improving Healthcare
For all of the dogma spouted from the various sides of the issue, there is a fundamental question that requires a consensus:
Is there a right to healthcare in this country? If so, exactly what is that right (e.g. the basic, fundamental services that right entails)?
I don't know that there is one (not finding it in the Constitution), but if so it is much akin to the general right we maintain for clean water, sewage treatment, electricity, schools, police, and fire services.
In general, all communities have them, but some are better than others. And even in the municipalities with the best services, the police department isn't going to provide you with a personal body guard 24/7; you have to pay for that. Don't like the school system? Go to a private school and PAY for it.
Short of that, we currently have a large number of small business owners that are exiting their healthcare plans all together. They are expected to compete globally or even regionally with cheaper sources for labor and goods. Thus it becomes a survival issue if I have to offer health insurance as well.
And the various state Departments of Insurance (and legislatures) are killing small business owners in this regard because we aren't allowed to pay for the part of healthcare we can afford, but have to pay (usually 75% of the premium or more)for everything the government says we have to pay for.
Thus, instead of basic primary care services and basic hospitalization at an affordable rate, I offer my employees nothing. Because my DOI says I have to offer maternity, specialty care, rehab, etc. and I can't have my employees choose whether they want those things and are willing to pay for them.