Do What Works

An estimated 30 percent of healthcare spending goes toward ineffective or redundant care (Fisher and Wennberg, 2003). In real terms, this means as much as $750 billion of America’s $2.5 trillion annual healthcare spending may not be well spent. We need to change incentives to promote higher quality, evidence-based care for all patients.

Today, providers generally are paid based on the number of services they deliver, regardless of effectiveness. This is due partly to medical professionals not having ready access to information about which treatments and services work best. Studies have shown long delays - perhaps as much as 17 years - before scientific findings about what works best get incorporated into everyday practice (Institute of Medicine, 2001).

By identifying best practices and putting them to use more quickly, the government and private sector can improve quality, help control rising costs and reduce inefficiency in our healthcare system.