Paradox and Imperatives in Health Care : Redirecting Reform for Efficiency and Effectiveness, Revised Edition

The medical sector of the American economy has suddenly stopped growing. This unexpected outcome creates serious problems that cannot be solved by the Affordable Care Act and other one-size-fits-all reforms. In this concise and clearly written book, a leading health futurist/medical economist takes a new, unbiased look at health care’s dysfunctions and proposes three specific actions to create the best health care system that 17 percent of GDP can buy. Dr. Bauer shows how the principles of efficiency and effectiveness can be used first to create a world-class delivery system, and then to provide care for all Americans.

The Paradox: Americans are not as healthy as people in dozens of comparable countries that spend 30 percent less on health care, and our medical marketplace overall is plagued by persistent problems of cost, quality, and access. Yet, the world’s best individual health systems are located in the U.S.—each a unique result of visionary leadership and private initiative, not government-driven health reform.

The Imperatives: Due to powerful new forces explained in this book, medical spending has stopped growing. Purchasers, payers, and patients are no longer willing or able to keep paying more. To stay in business and improve population health, providers and their business partners must eliminate the shameful waste generated by inefficient and ineffective production processes.

The Solution: Simply repairing or repealing the Affordable Care Act will not get us where we want to go. The fundamental roadblock is a wasteful system, not uninsured Americans. Reform needs to be immediately redirected to creating the best health care system that 17 percent of GDP can buy. Money saved by taking the new path to reform can then be used to improve population health through access for all. Paradox and Imperatives in Health Care is the roadmap for getting there.

• Supplies updated perspectives on health care’s problems and solutions
• Details the reasons why government-driven reform does not solve problems
• Provides a justification for regulatory relief tied to performance improvement
• Suggests specific new policies for a better approach to desired outcomes
• Presents content written expressly for busy executives and policy makers