Building A Better Health Care System Post-Covid-19: Steps for Reducing Low-Value and Wasteful Care

Abstract

The upheaval in the provision of routine health care caused by the Covid-19 pandemic offers an unprecedented opportunity to reduce low-value care significantly with concurrent efforts from providers and health systems, payers, policymakers, employers, and patients.

Summary

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted the provision of routine care, forcing providers and patients to postpone many services and adopt virtual and non-contact strategies. These changes present an unprecedented opportunity to re-evaluate the necessity of services our health system provides, embracing and enhancing the ones that provide the most value and finally reducing or eliminating those that provide little or no benefit. Immediate action is essential as reopening occurs; force of habit and financial stresses may otherwise counteract some positive recent changes and move the health care system back toward business as usual. We suggest aligned strategies for providers and health systems, payers, policymakers, employers, and patients that can help seize this opportunity to build a better health system.