Merrill, catching up on your column. In the 80's I took a job as COO at the sole community hospital in Hagerstown, MD, in part to learn about life under an all-payer system. Albeit, in those days it was all inpatient focuses and not as broad or sophisticated as it is today.
That said, the system has not only stood the test of time, it has also demonstrated that there is a more rational methodology to address healthcare spending and eliminate the disparities in payments based on the socio-economic make up of the location of the provider. Keep pushing for a more rational payment system.
Thanks, Alan. Maryland hospital executives I've spoken with recently say the broader and more sophisticated global budgeting system now in place has greatly facilitated their transition to value-based care, especially for those in cities dealing with low-income populations. As this piece notes, it's a great model other states should pursue since reform efforts at the national level will remain stalled for the foreseeable future.
Merrill, catching up on your column. In the 80's I took a job as COO at the sole community hospital in Hagerstown, MD, in part to learn about life under an all-payer system. Albeit, in those days it was all inpatient focuses and not as broad or sophisticated as it is today.
That said, the system has not only stood the test of time, it has also demonstrated that there is a more rational methodology to address healthcare spending and eliminate the disparities in payments based on the socio-economic make up of the location of the provider. Keep pushing for a more rational payment system.
Thanks, Alan. Maryland hospital executives I've spoken with recently say the broader and more sophisticated global budgeting system now in place has greatly facilitated their transition to value-based care, especially for those in cities dealing with low-income populations. As this piece notes, it's a great model other states should pursue since reform efforts at the national level will remain stalled for the foreseeable future.