Formula for a better health care system 

 = health care Crisis (Catalyst for Change; opportunity) + the translation of data, i.e., electronic medical record , encounter and electronic prescribing data) into information in order to Determe what Does and what Does not work; what is Effective if not Efficacious, Efficient, if not Cost-effective and Cost-Beneficial.  This, the managed care method, will allows us to discourage the latter.

Add a Presidental Election, which helps bring the issues of quality, cost and access (i.e., how to get the right care at the right time and place) into shovel-ready Focus and here's what you can have in 8 related, published blogs:

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"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Managed Care 101 in 2010 (Part I-b)" – Originally published Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Today is Inauguration Day and "Hope" and "Change" are waiting in the wings.  Mr. President, "Universal health care... should be your biggest priority after rescuing the economy." 

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Constructive Managed Care in 2010 (Part I-c)" – Originally published Thursday, January 22, 2009

With the election, the issue of healthcare reform is back on our plates.

"Inaugurating Healthcare Reform: Coherent Managed Care in 2010 (Part I-d)" – Originally published Tuesday, February 3, 2009

"The health care system in America.... costs too much and saps economic vitality, achieves far too little return on investment and isn’t distributed equitably."

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Cause and Effect Techniques in Managed Care in 2010 (Part I-e)" – Originally published Thursday, February 12, 2009

The theory of 'small area variation analysis,' developed by Dr. Jack Wennberg of Dartmouth is fundamental for healthcare reform, but it's on the back shelf.

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Comprehensive Managed Care in 2010 (Part I-f)" – Originally published Tuesday, February 17, 2009

"The next steps will be harder. Based on what the data show, Medicare will have to stop reimbursing some expensive treatments that don’t do much good."

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: The Nuts and Bolts (Part I-g)" – Originally published Tuesday, February 24, 2009

We need to move away from the current fee-for-service (FFS) payment system: it fosters piecework; that fractionalizes care, which is costly

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Will the EHR Crack the Crisis in Health Care? (Part I-h)" – Originally published Tuesday, March 3, 2009

The point is that once the feedback loop is closed, not only will patients have the best chance for optimal care—when they need it, where they need it, and by the right practitioners, but also those practitioners may be aptly paid. That's the kind of reform that is a win-win for everyone concerned.

"Inaugurating Health Care Reform: Will the EHR Crack the Crisis in Health Care? Cont'd (Part I-i)" – Originally published Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Paying healthcare practitioners fairly is the crux of healthcare payment reform. Recognizing and rewarding what the health care team does well, and the obverse-not rewarding what they do not do well is fundamental