This year, the cost of health insurance for a working family of four exceeded $24,000 for the first time ever. That’s up 7% from last year (the largest rate increase since 2011). But increased spending has not equated to happier patients. New research has uncovered an “unprecedented decline” in patient satisfaction throughout United States.

In today’s episode of Medicine: The Truth, podcast cohost Dr. Robert Pearl discusses the rise of medical costs alongside the rise in patient displeasure.

But the bad news doesn’t stop there. New data suggest that infant morality and maternal mortality are on the rise in America. At the same time, doctors, nurses and medical staff are exiting the profession by the hundreds of thousands.

However, listeners looking for good news will find some in today’s show, too.  Here’s a snapshot of the topics covered:

• AI is making massive inroads in predicting next Covid-19 strains
• Paxlovid prices are going up: why and by how much?
• The link between Long Covid and inflammation
• Average family health premiums topped $24,000
• Why are patients less satisfied with hospital care?
• Telemedicine usage continues to dip following pandemic highs
• The results of 49 pilot programs since 2011 to reduce medical costs
• Study: daily exercise vs. anti-depressive medications
• How social determinants of health affect pre-teens
• The U.S. infant mortality rate is getting worse: Why?
• Hundreds of thousands exited healthcare profession in 2020-21
• Efficacy updates on the Covid-19, flu vaccines
• How rural areas are affected by hospital closures

Click here for more info: https://www.fixinghealthcarepodcast.com/

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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of a book about medicine’s invisible yet highly influential physician culture. Check out “Uncaring: How Physician Culture Is Killing Doctors & Patients.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post MTT #78: How high will premiums rise? How low will patient satisfaction go? appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.