Good read found at Blurbomat: How to Think Constructively About Healthcare – Umair Haque – HarvardBusiness.org

A highlight:

The healthcare debate is focused on the merits of single-payer vs. many-payer systems. Yet, focusing solely on who pays is leading to an incomplete debate about institutions. Tyler Cowen has rightly noted that we don’t want French healthcare institutions — but which institutions do we want?

Here are seven priorities for 21st century healthcare institutions. I’ve found that a simple “Six W’s” framework can be a powerful tool for igniting institutional innovation. Let’s use it to reconceive a healthcare industry built to create thick value: authentic, meaningful, sustainable value.

Why is payment made? For better, fairer health outcomes, not prescriptions.

What is paid for? Micro-scale services, not “product.”

When is payment made? After better health outcomes have been realized.

Which uses is payment put to? Innovation investment significantly outstripping marketing expenditure.

Where is payment made? Directly to those who provide services (aka, doctors) at the local level.

How is payment monitored, enforced, and negotiated? Through local, personal connections, not anonymous, impersonal transactions.

In what way are resource allocation decisions made? Jointly, locally, and participatively, through ubiquitous, publicly accessible information about products and services.