I should be watching a movie.  No, I should be doing business development and writing reviews.  No, I should procrastinate and write a blog entry on the boomers and their impact on the US healthcare system in the next 20-30 years.  Will the Boomers be the main reason the US healthcare systems goes kaboom around 2020?

Recently George Churchill and I were discussing the “big three” so many in the payer space seem to be focused on - healthcare affordability, access, and quality.  He asked me what was the “next thing” after the big three.  Volume came to mind.  While the boomer generation won’t necessarily be the driver of spending increases (see Uwe Reinhardt’s WHCCE data/presentation), one can’t ignore the fact that they will still drastically increase the need in care from 2010 onward.  The US needs to figure out the expense side of the equation, but also needs to figure out the volume side of the equation - how will it care for so many in need?  My hypothesis is - similar to that how manufacturing has moved out of the US - the boomers will get their care outside the US.  This is already happening (see recent FastCompany article), and if there is a lack throughput in the US (and/or a sacrifice in quality) the savvy boomers won’t put up with it.  Many are well financed and will likely take their money and perhaps premiums elsewhere.  Sure, it’ll scare them at first.  All unknown and new things scare most people, who wants to be the guinea pig?  But like the cell phone, it’ll become the status quo eventually.

If it can be put into row column form, needs to sorted, filtered, sliced and diced… it’s probably better in a database.  :-)  e.g. I just moved my movie list (part of it anyway) to mySQL and dynamically populate it on this web site (vs. a static wiki).  Check it out - you can now sort it (filters to come). <can’t believe I spend time doing stuff like this… I guess it’s one way to stay grounded in the technology space>

When I read this article today I had to do a double take: Feds set to stop reimbursing hospitals for medical mistakes - Triangle Business Journal

The article states that under current business practicies Dr.’s get paid even if they screw up.  BUT, in the future the Feds plan to stop paying for these type of operations.  Wow.  That’s an innovative and new idea!

How would you feel if they amputated the wrong arm of yours and then you received a bill for the operation!?!?  Doesn’t it seem like this should be a straight forward issue?  In many other industries people don’t get paid if they don’t do their job, but when it comes healthcare people are allowed to make mistakes and get paid for them.  I didn’t realize physicians can fall in the same camp as meteorologists…

Monica mentioned I should watch this video/flash movie.  It’s about all the crap we consume and buy.  We all contribute and participate in this system (ok, there may be a few that don’t - e.g. Scott and Emma for 8 weeks) for the most part.  It tied into many thoughts and principles of mine - e.g. it’s important to consider the big picture and without my health I don’t have much at all.  Anyhow, it’s a good perspective on what’s going on in the world and aligns with my recent scary thought while in Costco this weekend - what happens when China’s majority needs to consume the same way we do today in the US?  Planet meltdown, that’s what.

I just bought tix for my flics this year at Sundance…

Event: Quid Pro Quo  1/25/2008 8:30 PM
Venue: Prospector Square Theatre, 2

Event: Year of Getting to Know Us 1/25/2008 11:30 PM
Venue: Prospector Square Theatre, 4

Event: Anywhere, USA  1/26/2008 8:30 AM
Venue: Racquet Club Theatre, 2

Event: Dramatic Grand Prize Award 1/26/2008 9:30 PM
Venue: Eccles Theatre, 2

Event: World Dramatic Grand Prize  07 1/27/2008 10:00 AM
Venue: Eccles Theatre, 2

Event: Documentary Grand Prize Award 1/27/2008 1:00 PM
Venue: Eccles Theatre, 4

Event: Dramatic  Audience Award 1/27/2008 6:15 PM
Venue: Eccles Theatre, 4