Health & Veritas Mark McClellan: An Economic Lens on Healthcare
Mar 20, 2025
Mark McClellan, a physician-economist and former FDA commissioner, shares insights on healthcare policy and payment innovations. He reflects on the lessons learned from the U.S. COVID-19 response, emphasizing the need for a bipartisan review to enhance public health. McClellan discusses the evolution of Medicare Advantage, the impact of payment models on care delivery, and explores the challenges faced by the CMS Innovation Center in controlling costs. He advocates for better data and accountable payment designs to drive down expenses and improve outcomes.
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Accidental Path To Policy Influence
- McClellan recounts an accidental path from neuroscience to health economics and public service.
- A series of jobs and chance meetings led him from research to influential policy roles.
Accelerated Procurement Changed Vaccine Economics
- Operation Warp Speed showed low-price, high-quantity procurement can speed vaccine development and access in emergencies.
- Advanced volume commitments reduce developer risk and enable rapid manufacturing at lower prices.
Last Mile Failures In COVID Response
- The U.S. adapted delivery (telehealth, hospital-at-home) but failed to change payment incentives deeply during COVID.
- McClellan argues we missed a bipartisan commission to reorganize public health and connect siloed information.