“Choosing Wisely” is Key To Health Care Cost Containment
April 10, 2012
Last week, nine major medical specialty societies representing 374,000 physicians nationally began their "choosing wisely" campaign geared at reducing healthcare costs by educating the public and fellow healthcare providers about over-utilization of healthcare services.
The group released a list of 45 questionable tests and procedures that are often offered to patients unnecessarily and should be questioned as a means of reducing overall healthcare spending. Each of the nine involved practice areas, which range from the American Academy of Family Physicians to the American College of Radiology and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, developed their own lists of "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" in recognition of the importance of physician and patient conversations to improve care and eliminate unnecessary tests and procedures.
These lists represent specific, evidence-based recommendations physicians and patients should discuss to help make wise decisions about the most appropriate care based on their individual situation. Each list provides information on when tests and procedures may be appropriate, as well as the methodology used in its creation.
This public information effort is spearheaded by the ABIM Foundation and Consumer Reports, and is intended to reduce healthcare costs in the long run. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that up to 30 percent of care delivered in the United States goes toward unnecessary tests, procedures, doctor visits, hospital stays and other services that may not improve people's health-and, in fact, may actually cause harm. Furthermore, the federal Institute of Medicine (IOM) has estimated that as much as 30 percent of healthcare in the United States is wasted.
If current trends remain unchanged, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services project U.S. healthcare spending will reach $4.3 trillion and increase from 17.3 to 19.3 percent of the nation's gross domestic product by 2019.
SOURCE: National Association of Health Underwriters website.
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