Book Review: Skin in the Game
A Must Read for All Politicians and Health Care Consumers
The health care industry in the U.S. is in crisis. Over 47 million Americans are uninsured. Health care costs continue to skyrocket and the shortage of nurses is expected
The politicians seeking office this year are all buzzing about health care. However, providing insurance for everyone is not the single answer to this crisis. Rising cost and shortages of health care professionals must be addressed. Equality in health care is another factor to consider.
In his book, Skin in the Game, John Hammerergren proposes and discusses how the consumer must put himself first in the health care system and the five points that need to be addressed to help solve the health care crisis.
After providing a thorough history of the evolution of health care in the U.S., Hammergren discusses the fact that all private health insurance plans work on the premise that at age 65, beneficiaries will join the Medicare plan and no longer be a burden to the insurance plan. Therefore these companies don’t have to involve themselves in long term health care issues, and often make decisions based on the patient’s age and their own profitability.
The five points to reforming the health care industry emphasize promoting wellness and preventive care. The points are:
• Include everyone. Everyone has to be eligible and it has to be mandatory that everyone have health insurance and access to care to become and stay healthy.
• Transition to market-based Medicare and Medicaid. Seniors need to have choices in their health care and the care needs to continue to be focused on wellness and prevention.
• Equalize tax treatment. Large corporations receive tax breaks on insurance options. Individual tax payers deserve the same breaks to help afford insurance. Take the HSA (health savings account) plans to the next level.
• Reform malpractice and liability law. Practitioners have to pay exorbitant fees for malpractice insurance and this cost is passed on to the consumer. Additionally, the cost of unnecessary tests and treatments add to the burden of rising health care costs as the practitioners fear being sued. Medicare and many insurance companies have taken steps to refuse to pay for errors and the additional aftercare needed. This should promote safe health care better than malpractice suits have.
• Empower consumers with the information to make their own decisions. Access to information about quality of care for hospitals, clinics and practitioners is emerging. As this improves, consumers will be able to choose the best doctors, hospitals, laboratories, etc. Competition will help to drive costs down and improve quality health care.
Hammergren is the CEO of McKesson Corporation, the oldest and largest health care services company in America. His co-author, Phil Harkins is CEO at Linkage, a global organizational development company.
Skin in the Game is an important resource for anyone studying health care. For all health care consumers, politicians and those involved in forming the political platforms for candidates, this is a must read!
Skin in the Game © 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ
ISBN 978-0-470-26278-8
