Costly Cuts or Collaborative Changes? Developing a Health Care Cost Growth Reduction Strategy with Business, Insurer, Employee, and Provider Buy-In

Abstract

A serious discussion is needed to determine what mechanisms in the status quo might be utilized to continue providing high quality care to Americans without the associated rapid rise in health care costs. Without a discussion of cost-containment, any potential reforms to the health care market will be unable to deliver on the promises they make to politicians and patients. Discussions must take place among all the parties whose interests are germane - government, health care providers, businesses, patients, health insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and health care manufacturers - and must realize the importance of these changes to the future of health care in this country.