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Speaker: Replace flawed reimbursement system with universal health care, private care access
BOSTON — The disconnect that exists between the utilization of resources in health care and value must change, a speaker here said.
Only with such change, and with other modifications in attitudes and practices, will the chasm be bridged between volume health care, which the United States has now, and value-based health care, where the country should be and will probably end up in 5 to 10 years, according to Edward C. Benzel, MD, the honored guest at the Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting.
“It clearly will be a question of balance,” Benzel said.
Among the difficult topics Benzel tackled in his presentation was the concept that Americans’ entitlement to expensive services of unproven quality must be discontinued, as should the marginalization of physicians as decision-makers.
“We are all, without a doubt, enjoying declining respect. Indeed we are being marginalized,” Benzel said. “We are working more and more with algorithms and care paths and shift work and commoditization.”
Concepts such as the loss of allure to practice medicine, particularly neurosurgery, have contributed greatly to the existence of a flawed reimbursement system that fosters high-priced medical care in America today, according to Benzel.
As a solution, he suggested an alternate health care system be established of universal health care with access to private care.
“We must shrug the market pressures that we face and merge into doing what is right,” Benzel said. “If we can effectively do that, we will bridge this chasm.” — by Susan M. Rapp
Reference:
Benzel EC. Bridging the chasm between volume and value based care. Presented at: Congress of Neurological Surgeons Annual Meeting; Oct. 18-22, 2014; Boston.
Disclosure: Benzel has no relevant financial disclosures.