Hard Pills to Swallow

Choke on these hard to swallow realities of the United States Healthcare market. 

This isn't a political commentary, just a running list of mind-boggling Healthcare truths and contradictions that I encounter and uncover as a Healthcare Information Technology Consultant professional.

1. Nearly a third of primary-care physicians won't accept Medicaid patients. This is the main reason why this population utilizes the ED for routine care at a disproportionate rate. 
2. Health outcomes for Medicaid patients are little better than those for the uninsured, sometimes faring worse under Medicaid than they would if they didn't have coverage at all. 
3. Medicare is terribly inefficient. Studies have shown that highest per-patient Medicare costs counties showed no better outcomes than low-spending areas. Medicare over-covers routine care, but stops covering you if you get really sick.
4. Medicare is still based on a "fee for service" reimbursement protocol. This antiquated approach misaligns rewards with the end goal. The end goal is to increase quality to reduce readmission, however, that would mean fewer services are rendered, thus less income.
5. US Healthcare is the most expensive in the world with similar outcomes/quality as countries that spend on average 1/3 on healthcare than the average American.

Healthcare Industry Surprising Truths Courtesy of eLearners.com