I'm thrilled to see the new effort of United Health Care and IBM in Arizona.
We need to move away from counting "procedures" and "visits" and develop ways of valuing the real work of effective care. This means valuing the work of coordinating care for patients across the health care continuum and collaboration between the silos to share information.
I have hopes and concerns regarding this initiative.
My concerns are due to United Health Care's record of dealing with health care - not one that garners much respect from the front lines of heath care where all we see are the hassles, the denied claims, the huge bonuses paid to executives, and the illegal acts.
We can hope that the old ways are gone and this project showcases the new United Healthcare.
My hope for this initiative is that it can overcome the failures of past initiatives.
- I hope that the practices receive resources that truly cover the costs of the changes they have to make to do the real work of effective primary care for their patients.
- I hope that the measurement system they use reflects the real work of primary care and not a bunch of arcane trivia, an over-emphasis on technology, and an obscuring of the real work.
- I hope that they reduce the insane and crushing burden of work that comes from the "mother-may-I" approach to denying patients the care they need.
- I hope that the payment system eliminates the complexity and burden that comes from the mistaken belief that we're better off somehow when we count "procedures" and "visits" and break them down into tiny little parts as if that gives us real knowledge and benefit.
I am truly glad that there are initiatives like this sprouting up in different locations around America. We need change. We need a policy environment that makes it possible for us to do the right thing and doesn't drag us down every step of the way.
Hoping that this is more than just lipstick on a pig,
L. Gordon Moore MD
Comments