EconTalk Marty Makary on the Price We Pay
Feb 10, 2020
Marty Makary, a professor at Johns Hopkins, shares insights from his book, The Price We Pay. He exposes the bizarre workings of our healthcare system, like unnecessary procedures and surprising hospital fees. Transparent pricing could empower both patients and employers, helping them avoid pitfalls. Makary emphasizes redefining medical interventions, the role of language in patient choices, and innovative reforms like direct contracting. His ideas could reshape the future of healthcare and improve consumer experiences.
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Overuse of Medical Care
- A major, under-discussed issue in US healthcare is excessive medical care, including over-screening and unnecessary procedures.
- A survey of US doctors revealed that 21% of all medical care is unnecessary, even harmful, contributing to rising costs without improving health outcomes.
Predatory Screening in Churches
- Dr. Makary's team observed predatory screening practices targeting vulnerable populations, like recruiting patients in churches for unnecessary leg artery procedures.
- These practices highlight how financial incentives drive overuse of medical care, particularly when patients are not directly responsible for the costs.
Overuse of Heart Stents
- While some medical procedures may seem necessary, studies reveal they don't always improve survival rates, like heart stents outside of acute coronary syndrome.
- Overuse of such procedures can lead to complications and further health risks due to blood thinners or unnecessary interventions.
