http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/09/12/david-m-cutler/use-a-scalpel-not-a-meat-cleaver/ Big Ideas for a Better World Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:01:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/09/12/david-m-cutler/use-a-scalpel-not-a-meat-cleaver/comment-page-1/#comment-383694 LillyPad | Innovation Outcomes in Health Wed, 01 Jun 2011 15:50:12 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/09/12/david-m-cutler/use-a-scalpel-not-a-meat-cleaver/#comment-383694 [...] staggering as well.  David Cutler of Harvard explains that “the average person aged 45 will live three years longer than he used to solely because medical care for cardiovascular disease has [...] [...] staggering as well.  David Cutler of Harvard explains that “the average person aged 45 will live three years longer than he used to solely because medical care for cardiovascular disease has [...]

]]> http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/09/12/david-m-cutler/use-a-scalpel-not-a-meat-cleaver/comment-page-1/#comment-350823 Healthcare Economist · Rx: Cut U.S. medical spending in half!?!?! Thu, 20 Aug 2009 18:16:45 +0000 http://www.cato-unbound.org/2007/09/12/david-m-cutler/use-a-scalpel-not-a-meat-cleaver/#comment-350823 [...] David Cutler responds by worrying that Hanson’s demand side approach will compel patients to reduce unnecessary medical care (good!) but also reduce the amount of preventative and other care (bad!). For instance, patients may not buy prescription drugs to treat a disease if they are forced to pay for them out of pocket. If the patient becomes ill after not taking the drugs and needs surgery, the insurer will then pay for the operation.  This is not an efficient use of resources. Dr. Cutler believes health care costs could be cut almost 50% with the implementation of “information technology, reduced errors, investment in disease management, or generation of comparative effectiveness information.” Finally, Cutler believes medicine is not as inadequate as Hanson claims, citing advances in post-heart attack treatment. [...] [...] David Cutler responds by worrying that Hanson’s demand side approach will compel patients to reduce unnecessary medical care (good!) but also reduce the amount of preventative and other care (bad!). For instance, patients may not buy prescription drugs to treat a disease if they are forced to pay for them out of pocket. If the patient becomes ill after not taking the drugs and needs surgery, the insurer will then pay for the operation.  This is not an efficient use of resources. Dr. Cutler believes health care costs could be cut almost 50% with the implementation of “information technology, reduced errors, investment in disease management, or generation of comparative effectiveness information.” Finally, Cutler believes medicine is not as inadequate as Hanson claims, citing advances in post-heart attack treatment. [...]

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