Publisher's Synopsis
It is well known that U.S. spends significantly more per capita and a higher percentage of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on healthcare than other developed nations, yet our health outcomes and access to care remain disparate and inconsistent. Is it possible that similar variability in quality and cost of care exists in other countries? A recent OECD reports suggests that these observations are not unique to the U.S. and therefore all countries have opportunities to improve both the effectiveness and efficiency of their healthcare systems. These findings also suggest that there may be some common lessons for providers and policy makers around the world on improving the value of healthcare delivery (better quality using fewer resources per patient). This publication aims to examine potential opportunities for healthcare system improvement by evaluating quality of care and related expenditures for total joint replacements from a representative group of hospitals in Japan. Combining these empirical observations with an examination of system incentives, in particular those around provider reimbursement, the authors suggest that if payers of healthcare services were to pay for value, we would all be more likely to get it. The authors also provide a set of recommendations on how to begin on this road to pay for value, recommendations that are as applicable and relevant to the U.S. as they are to Japan.
