Anthony Yeung, MD, of Phoenix-based Desert institute for Spine Care, recently published an article in the Journal of Spine discussing spine care deliver under healthcare reform in the United States.
"If the current healthcare system in the USA remains the law of the land, healthcare of the future will be on life support," Dr. Yeung wrote to begin. "The free market may be the last chance for the entitlement mentality to survive. New regulations and politics will play a key role."
Within the article, Dr. Yeung examines several trends in the healthcare industry moving toward value-based care and evidence-based medicine. He calls on medical professionals providing expertise to politicians and regulators to understand their biases and rely on evidence-based medicine in their guidance.
His additional points include:
• The need to focus surgical treatment on the pain source.
• Minimally invasive spine surgery performed in the ASC.
• Competition for the providers on the free market.
• Support for a "warranty program" on the free market.
• Multidisciplinary groups entering into at-risk contracts.
He recommended ASCs partner with surgical recovery centers for patients with more complex procedures instead of relying on hospitalizations. He also placed emphasis on patients taking more responsibility for their care.
"Patients must be able and willing to pay for their care when not covered by their insurance plans," he wrote. "Insurance companies will have to pay for conditions covered by the plans that their consumers pay for when the above conditions are met, but accept a different type of rationing based on cost."