The NYTimes points toward areas of the United States where surgeries may be much cheaper for some patients, in part due to programs trying to drive down costs, in a comment-driven follow-up to the newspaper’s article on medical tourism and the medical device industry.
The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) program is the exemplar here (and in the NYT article), as evidenced by a study in the journal Health Affairs, which says:
In the first year after implementation, surgical volumes for CalPERS members increased by 21.2 percent at low-price facilities and decreased by 34.3 percent at high-price facilities. Prices charged to CalPERS members declined by 5.6 percent at low-price facilities and by 34.3 percent at high-price facilities.
With the Rise of AI, What IP Disputes in Healthcare Are Likely to Emerge?
Munck Wilson Mandala Partner Greg Howison shared his perspective on some of the legal ramifications around AI, IP, connected devices and the data they generate, in response to emailed questions.
But, the left coast isn’t the only ticket, particularly for those living in pricey areas. The NYT notes: “Some economists point out that health plans in New York City, a relatively expensive market, could save money by sending their patients to Buffalo in limousines.”
What does this mean for a changing healthcare system? As Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Dr. Delos Cosgrove noted in his LinkedIn post today, one of the major shifts happening in healthcare is that patients need to learn to shop for care and to shop wisely.
