Some decision makers need to ask, is primary care important. If it is, then answer your questions. If not,expect it to fade out.

The Medical Home concept doesn’t seem to address some of the biggest problems with primary care which include lower reimbursements for providers despite increases in cost to provide the same services and access to care among many other things. By its current definition, the Medical Home is not any different than what primary care doctors (PCP) do today. Granted, improvements can be made to increase communication and share information better among physicians, hospitals and other providers, but fundamentally PCP’s are already providing a medical home.

It seems to me there are a lot of great arguments that will enhance the healthcare system. The problem is, the healthcare system is broken. Before we can improve it, we need to fix what is wrong with it. It is like putting new tires on a car with a broken motor. You can enhance the car’s appearance all you want, but if you don’t fix the motor, you are not going anywhere.

I suggest start asking why?

Why are the number of primary care doctors in decline?
Why is it so difficult to get reimbursement from insurance company?
Why do medical providers have to wait on average of 45 days before they get paid for services rendered?
Why do vaccines cost rise, but reimbursement stays the same?
Why do providers write off thousands (and in some cases millions) of dollars in bad debt?
Why does Medicare decrease GPCI (factor used in pricing medical services)?
Why do insurance companies decide what is appropriate reimbursement for services provided?
Why is it we live in the richest country in the world and we have a mediocre healthcare system?
Why does one have to wait hours to be seen in an Emergency Room?
Why do people go to the ER instead of their PCP?

Keep on asking why until there are no more why’s to ask… That is where we need to start.

Glad you are healthier, and not a bad idea, to an extent.

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