A Major Impediment to True Health Care Reform
Posted at 2:30 p.m. on Feb. 25
Richard Thaler lays out his vision of health care reform — including “fee for health rather than fee for service” and “employment of midlevel professionals like pharmacists, nurse practitioners and physician assistants, to give primary care physicians more time to talk to their patients” — but notes that the only way to encourage these reforms is through malpractice reform.
“They worry that if they stop administering a test that might cause more harm than good, or take steps to fully use the abilities of assistants, they will be sued… let’s offer an inducement. Those with a record of providing high-quality care at good value could apply to the government for a safe harbor from malpractice suits.”
“My suggestion is that we experiment by offering patients the option of selecting a health care provider with a record of quality that requires patients to waive certain rights to sue.”
