February 26, 2014

A Vision of the Future for Primary Care

For I dipp’d into the future, as far as the

 the eye could see,

Saw the Vision of the world, and 

All the wonder that would be.

Lord Alfred Tennyson (1809-1892), Locksley Hall

Grace Marie Turner,  founder and president of the Galen Institute, sent me this message today,

Fresh ideas and a new vision for health reform

Vision, policy, and politics

Virtually: http://www.galen.org/events/health-solutions-conference

“Please plan to join us virtually via webcast or in person tomorrow for a conversation over the vision, policy, and politics of health reform that relies on incentives, genuine competition, and consumer choice.”

In person: Thursday (Feb. 27) National Press Club Ballroom, Washington, DC, beginning at 8:30 a.m. EST

“The stage is being set right now for a pivotal debate over ObamaCare in the 2014 elections – whether it will ultimately get “fixed” or replaced by credible free-market policies.  Join us tomorrow (Thursday) as top political and policy leaders discuss “Fresh ideas and a new vision for health reform.”

 "Vision: Panel I will feature a discussion with leading members of Congress talking about their vision of a true market-based health reform. Six leaders will describe a health sector where incentives are properly aligned and consumers have more control over choices in a truly competitive market."

Sen. Richard Burr, NC
Rep. Diane Black, TN
Rep. Michael Burgess, TX
Rep. Tom Price, GA 
Rep. Phil Roe, TN
Rep. Steve Scalise, LA

*Moderated by Douglas Holtz-Eakin, American Action Forum Policy:  On Panel II, 10 policy experts from the major market-oriented think tanks will translate the vision into policy solutions for real insurance with real examples of portability and tax fairness, protections for those with pre-existing conditions, and a strong safety net.

Jeffrey H. Anderson, Ph.D., 2017 Project
Joseph R. Antos, Ph.D., American Enterprise Institute
James C. Capretta, Ethics and Public Policy Center
John C. Goodman, Ph.D., National Center for Policy Analysis
Hadley A. Heath, Independent Women's Forum
Paul Howard, Ph.D., Manhattan Institute
Merrill Matthews, Ph.D., Institute for Policy Innovation
Thomas P. Miller, J.D., American Enterprise Institute
Nina Owcharenko, The Heritage Foundation
*Moderated by: Grace-Marie Turner, Galen Institute

Politics: Journalist Ezra Klein and Avik Roy, opinion editor of Forbes and Manhattan Institute senior fellow, will give a lively Left/Right preview of the health policy debate in the 2014 and 2016 elections.

Co-sponsoring organizations:  American Action Forum, the American Enterprise Institute, the Ethics and Public Policy Center, the Galen Institute, The Heritage Foundation, the Independent Women’s Forum, the Institute for Policy Innovation, the Manhattan Institute, the National Center for Policy Analysis, the Pacific Research Institute, and the 2017 Project."
 
My Response to Invitation

Dear Grace-Marie:

I will be there, virtually.  

Unfortunately,  I cannot personally  attend.

But I do have this vision.

I foresee a  resurgence of decentralized personal health care  in the wings.
 
Five  developments will promote its resurgence:    

One, the desire for consumers for more personal one-on-one care with  personal physicians as an escape from narrowing  physician networks.

Two,  an escape from the long waiting lines occasioned by the shortage of primary care physicians and from the impersonal nature of consolidated integrated health systems,

Three,  the emergence of smartphone and other information technologies that simultaneously empower consumers and physicians.

Four,  the increasing prevalence of high deductible plans that promote shopping for full-service,  quickly accessible care  on a direct pay basis.

Five,  the rapid emergence of direct pay, private physicians, with  on demand services characterized by the innovative use of software with more accurate diagnostic, prognostic, and wellness information with the patient leaving the office with their complete medical record in hand or on their smartphone.

Tweet:  One new vision of health reform is that of personal decentralized personal service rather than impersonal consolidated services by depersonalized teams in integrated health systems.