Berwick, Davis, and Fisher on How Physicians Can Help Achieve Health Reform
Physicians should help lead the effort to establish affordable, high-quality health care in the United States, say three leading experts in health reform and policy in a New England Journal of Medicine "Perspectives" column published online.
Elliott S. Fisher, M.D, M.P.H., of the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, Donald M. Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and Karen Davis, Ph.D., of The Commonwealth Fund suggest that physicians help create consensus around "doctrinal divides" — such as the creation of a public insurance option — and bring providers together to create a health system that better serves both the public's needs and physicians' values.
The authors also say that physicians should acknowledge that health care delivery reform is a win-win that can improve primary care while maintaining physician's incomes, and that reducing health care costs at a rate of 1.5 percentage points a year will not be detrimental to patients or providers.
Webinar Tomorrow
Join the authors this Friday, May 22, at 11 a.m., E.D.T., to hear them discuss in more detail health policies that can improve health care quality, delivery, and payment, as well as cost-saving measures that can help finance the coverage for the uninsured. A question-and-answer period will follow the panelists' presentations.
To register for this free one-hour online meeting, go to http://commonwealthfundevents.webex.com.