He acknowledges that no evidence exists to show ACO’s have reduced costs substantially. He goes on to assert that if only ACO’s will implement something he calls “bundles for hospitals”, $50 billion would be saved over the next 10 years.
Hey, $5 billion a year is not chump change, but is that what Dr. Zeke means by “substantial”? Will it bend down the cost curve? Will it actually prevent the recession-driven slowdown in medical spending, from bending back up?
CDC says the level of US healthcare spending has reached roughly $2.9 trillion annually. That means Dr. Zeke’s $5 billion annual ACO hospital-bundling savings would be worth 0.001724 of our present spending. In words, that’s seventeen one-hundredths of ONE percent. In other words, if your family medical insurance premium is $2,500 per month, Dr. Zeke’s solution would save you $4.31. Which won’t buy you a latte grande.
Maybe the perfesser lost track of a couple decimal places along the way. Or maybe I lost track of them. But if not, why is Dr. Zeke so worked up that time is running out; that President Obama is missing a historic opportunity; and that the medical cost curve will again bend upward – – if we fail to do this ACO bundling thingy that he thinks will save all of seventeen one-hundredths of one percent?
Ezekiel Sees a Tiny Wheel
![Ezekiel Sees a Tiny Wheel]()
Reviewed by citra
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5
