Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Center for Health Policy Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System PCOR/CHP 10 th Anniversary Celebration September 16, 2008 CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH
CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY CENTER FOR PRIMARY CARE AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH
Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Center for Health Policy Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System PCOR/CHP 10 th Anniversary Celebration September 16, 2008
Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Center for Health Policy Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System PCOR/CHP 10 th Anniversary Celebration September 16, 2008
Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Center for Health Policy Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System PCOR/CHP 10 th Anniversary Celebration September 16, 2008
Alan M. Garber, M.D., Ph.D. Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research Center for Health Policy Stanford University VA Palo Alto Health Care System PCOR/CHP 10 th Anniversary Celebration September 16, 2008
Should we be concerned about rising health expenditures? It’s about value
Should we be concerned about rising health expenditures? According to economists, Increased longevity since 1970 worth $95 trillion (3x health spending) Improvements in health and physical function highly cost-effective
Decade1 yearCost Per Life-Year Gained* $36, $14, $62, $75,656 Sources: * Cutler, Rosen, and Vijan, 2006 Medical Progress: Cost Per Life Year Gained for a 45-Year-Old
Decade Undiscounted Life- Years* Discounted Life- Years** $36,086$166, $14,581$64, $62,234$158, $75,656$246,906 Sources: * Cutler, Rosen, and Vijan, 2006; ** Additional calculations by Allison Rosen Cost Per Life Year Gained for a 45-Year-Old: Undiscounted and Discounted Life-Years
Citizens of other nations are also living longer
U.S. may not be getting as much value for health care dollar as other nations
It’s also about the money
Medicare sources of non-interest income and expenditures as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product Source: Office of the Actuary, CMS; 2008 Medicare Trustees Report
Medicare sources of non-interest income and expenditures as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product Source: Office of the Actuary, CMS; 2008 Medicare Trustees Report Unfunded liability $7600 per working age adult* *In constant 2008 dollars
Why we spend more: the usual suspects
High prices High Prices
High prices High Prices
Misaligned incentives
Cutting costs
Cutting costs with little political pain
Promote electronic health records $77 billion annual savings (Obama advisers) $88 billion 10-year savings (Lewin group)
Reduce administrative costs $ 43 billion annual savings (Obama advisers)
Prevention and disease management: $81 billion annually (Obama health advisers); more than $493 billion over 10 years (Lewin Group)
Additional opportunities for savings INITIATIVE 10-YEAR SAVINGS “Comparative effectiveness” (Center for Medical Effectiveness) Align payment incentives Improved health insurance markets Limit health insurance tax exclusion $368 billion* $457 billion ???? *Lewin Associates calculations, in Bending the Curve, Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System, Dec. 2007
From Bending the Curve, Commonwealth Fund Commission on a High Performance Health System, Dec. 2007
Cost control efforts must cut growth rate to have lasting effects The key to sustained savings: better incentives based on better information
Medical interventions will need to be judged by the value they provide
COX-2 Inhibitors vs NSAIDS Change in costs Gain in health benefit (QALYs) Comparator: Naproxen $12k $6k $0 Source: Spiegel et al., The Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Selective Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Arthritis, Ann Intern Med. 2003;138: $100k per QALY
COX-2 Inhibitors vs NSAIDS Change in costs Gain in health benefit (QALYs) Comparator: Naproxen Assumption: Excludes effects on heart Change in cost: $11,600 Change in benefit: 0.04 QALYs Incremental CER: $290,000/QALY $12k $6k $0 Source: Spiegel et al., The Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Selective Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Arthritis, Ann Intern Med. 2003;138: $100k per QALY Basecase
COX-2 Inhibitors vs NSAIDS Change in costs Gain in health benefit (QALYs) Comparator: Naproxen Assumption: INCLUDES effects on heart Change in cost: $11,600 Change in benefit: 0.03 QALYs Incremental CER: $395,000/QALY $12k $6k $0 Source: Spiegel et al., The Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Selective Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Arthritis, Ann Intern Med. 2003;138: $100k per QALY Basecasew/ heart
COX-2 Inhibitors vs NSAIDS Change in costs Gain in health benefit (QALYs) Comparator: Naproxen Assumption: High-risk patients Change in cost: $4,720 Change in benefit: 0.08 QALYs Incremental CER: $56,000/QALY $12k $6k $0 Source: Spiegel et al., The Cost-Effectiveness of Cyclooxygenase-2 Selective Inhibitors in the Management of Chronic Arthritis, Ann Intern Med. 2003;138: $100k per QALY Basecasew/ heart High risk
Moving to a cost-effectiveness criterion shifts both expenditures and outcomes
Reducing expenditure growth in 2 steps
1. Better financing and payment Payment incentives for more effective and efficient care -will almost certainly require major IT investments -remove barriers to more effective payment mechanisms
2. Better information Produce comparative effectiveness and cost- effectiveness information
3. Better financing Modify tax exclusion for health insurance and health care More efficient markets for health insurance Better information about health plans
Value-enhancing innovation will be rewarded