It is undeniable that the US medical system has collapsed.U.S. spend three times Per capita medical expenses are higher than the average in developed countries, but our life expectancy is lower and the cost of patients is higher. More importantly, we do not have cost transparency, difficulty in accessing care, and obvious treatment unfair and mediocre results.
There is no easy way to get rid of this chaos, and even if the private sector promotes a lot of innovation, the speed of adoption is too slow. Although frustrating, the prospects are not without hope. As forward-looking legislation and public pressure increase, we can begin to repair the system.
Here are five relatively simple things the government can do now to get health care in the United States on track:
1. Reimbursement of telemedicine visits at the same speed as face-to-face care. At the beginning of the epidemic, CMS extension Provide telemedicine reimbursements to beneficiaries across the country and observe a significant increase in telemedicine services.These expanded payments have accelerated the use of telemedicine by approximately 10 years But it will expire at the end of this year. We need to make this equal reimbursement permanent.
Studies have shown that telemedicine improves patient treatment outcomes through advanced monitoring and increased clinical decision support systems.this result The length of hospitalization is shortened and the mortality rate is reduced. With the investment and technology in place, we will prepare for the future of telemedicine and provide more convenient care for a wider network of patients. Deleting these extensions would be a reckless regression.
2. Develop a virtual priority approach for primary and chronic care. When patients have more convenient access to care and there are fewer barriers to care, providers can take a more preventive approach.
Virtual priority care allows consumers to better control their health. Due to the lack of primary care providers in the United States, waiting time for appointments can be prohibitive—not to mention the logistical challenges of calling, confirming, and going to appointments. As a result, many patients avoid seeking care until their symptoms become intolerable before turning to costly options such as emergency rooms. When consumers can easily access providers from the comfort of their homes, they are more likely to seek care faster and avoid drastic and costly consequences.
Similarly, there is evidence that virtual care involves Chronic disease managementPatients are more likely to see a doctor regularly when they are available virtual, and patient compliance is higher, results are better, and cost savings are greater.
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, depression, COPD and hypertension are particularly suitable for virtual continuous care. These conditions usually require weekly, daily or even hourly adjustments, which can be difficult to manage when the patient only visits the PCP once or twice a year. Through continuous virtual care, patients and their providers can quickly adjust medication, blood pressure control, and diet.
3. Establish physical and mental health equality. For centuries, philosophers and therapists have advised the mind-body connection, and modern science Learn Constantly prove the impact of emotional stress on the body. However, investment in mental health is still low, so the root causes of many common chronic diseases cannot be treated. It is time for our healthcare system to reflect science and provide equal access to mental and physical care.
The 2008 Mental Health Equality and Addiction Act is a step in the right direction, but we are far from reaching its standards. A 2019 Milliman The report shows that the gap between mental health care and physical health care is growing, which indicates a lack of compliance among insurance companies. In 24 states, the reimbursement rate for primary care office visits is more than 30% higher than the reimbursement rate for mental health office visits.
Despite the low reimbursement rate, the demand for mental health care is still high.Americans have Report significantly higher The incidence of anxiety and depression since the beginning of the pandemic has potentially catastrophic effects on long-term health.almost 75% Of practitioners who treat anxiety disorders report 88% of Americans suffer There was at least one symptom of depression last year. We should meet this need by increasing the coverage of mental health care.
4. Provide general mental health checks. Regular mental health examinations can be detected and treated early. When screening becomes easier, we will work to eliminate the stigma associated with mental illness.Unfortunately, stigma and discrimination Often aggravated A person’s mental health issues and delays them from getting the help they need, Especially men.
We know +, digestive diseases and chronic pain and other diseases. Through early screening and treatment, we can avoid the long-term effects of many chronic diseases and save patients from years of suffering.
While addressing the need for mental health screening, we also need to address the lack of mental health providers in the United States to meet national needs. According to a new interview report, only 12% of therapists are receiving new patients, and the average waiting time for receiving patients is 19 days. Although in some cases it may be okay to wait for nearly three weeks to see it, it is unacceptable for people with depression or anxiety. Although we do need more licensed therapists in this field, we also need to better classify less severe cases to well-trained mental health coaches. Just as not all diseases require medical treatment, not all mental health diseases require treatment by a therapist.
5. Shift pricing to a value-based model. We need to get rid of the outdated fee-for-service reimbursement model, which actually rewards providers who don’t focus on results. This model Lead the provider to bear a heavier burden on the patient, and does not require the provider to be responsible for the results.
Value-based initiatives can improve quality and reduce care costs. When pricing is based on patient outcomes rather than service fees, it helps to coordinate incentives among payers, providers, employers, and consumers.
The industry should follow the leading edge of CMS’s expanded Medicare Advantage benefits, which allows the flexibility to establish healthy social determinants. Benefits including personalized nutrition guidance, therapeutic massage and fitness training can promote and maintain long-term health. These integrated care teams allow everyone to work within their permission and achieve a holistic physical and mental approach. Even with these expanded benefits, the overall costs for all parties will be reduced.
We still have a long way to go, but new machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies are helping us connect our physical and mental health in an unprecedented way. If we can continue to expand telemedicine by emphasizing virtual priority care methods and shifting pricing to a value-based model, we will reduce excess costs while improving patient outcomes. Now this is a future-oriented healthcare system.
