Analyzing key inferences in geographic variation research, the authors stated: “These findings support the emerging view that payment reforms narrowly targeted by geography would be ineffective in addressing local or national problems of healthcare costs and quality.”
The authors added: “A more direct and productive approach to reducing unwarranted variation in health care use and spending would be to focus policy changes on broader payment reform and oversight that can drive greater efficiency in healthcare delivery in all geographic areas.”
Read the report by the National Institute for Healthcare Reform.
Read more coverage of geographic variations in healthcare:
– Study Debunks Popular Belief That Supply of Hospitals, Physicians Drives Medicare Costs
– GAO: CMS Inaction Linked to $48B in Medicare Waste
– Kevin E. Lofton of Catholic Health Initiatives Discusses Key Issues for the Health System
