LogFAQs > #904062631

Balrog0 posted...

... I'm asking you how you imagine that happening given the regulations around patient data. Even if there weren't regs there would be issues with different networks of providers and types of providers sharing relevant data with each other (not to mention the non-medical providers that might need to access the data!)

but I'm asking you how you think that will all happen. Give me the steps. Obviously if we assume an outcome we can explain how it would be good. I'm asking you to tell me how we get there.

Digitization decreases costs and increases quality even between the insured and their health insurance company. Most health insurance plans offer access to free preventive programs (sometimes thinks like weight loss, smoking cessation, mental help, etc) that people don't use because they don't even know about that. Digital platforms that show people what their benefits are and help them interact with their benefits get more people through those programs which improves individual health and also the insurance company's bottom line at the same time.

And as insurance providers and healthcare providers digitize, they build platforms. These platforms can be used by anyone, even other insurance providers and healthcare providers, so long as the people who own the platform get a cut. So ultimately you can have someone's health record be shared across providers for no cost at all.

If we can get to the first steps of having people stay in touch with their primary care physician and taking advantage of the free preventive programs, we've already reduced a tremendous amount of waste in the system. I can't disclose specific numbers due to contractual obligations, but doing just these two things can improve individual health and reduce insurance costs by a substantial amount.

Simply having someone's phone number and having them switch over to paperless billing is a tough problem in healthcare because of how deprecated the model is. Doing those things represents quick and substantial cost savings. Do these types of things across the entire health insurance and provider systems and you'll have a lean and mean machine with time.
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Do good.
Eat communists.