In case you didn't see it over the weekend, the New York Times ran a feature on how health care might now unfold in light of last week's Supreme Court decision. Among the experts who weighed in was Stanford health economist Victor Fuchs, PhD, who believes that the Affordable Care Act is "just a start," and more work needs to be done. He explained:
Even if the Affordable Care Act is fully implemented, however, most of the major weaknesses of the U.S. health care system will remain in place. First, funding is largely dependent on employment-based insurance and income-tested insurance - two inefficient, inequitable methods. Second, delivery of care will still be highly fragmented, mostly uncoordinated and paid fee-for-service. Third, avoidable lapses in quality will remain, and health outcomes will continue to depend much more on nonmedical factors like obesity and smoking.
Fuchs went on to outline other health-care issues that need addressing.
Previously: Stanford experts respond to Supreme Court’s decision on health law, Supreme Court mostly upholds Affordable Care Act, Views on costs and reform from the “dean of American health care economists”, Victor Fuchs talks health-care costs and reform in Q&A and Health economists give Obama their two cents on reform
