Many people are wondering if we are living in a post-ACA world. The uncertainty has pundits posturing all over the political map. No matter how the economy or politics turn, there are a few constants where people can have some control.
We live in a technology-driven world so no matter how we feel about it, that train has left the station. The potential of technology will continue to improve our ability to monitor our own health and for providers to cure disease. Admittedly, some of it is expensive but much of it, such as personal wearables, are inexpensive and allow patients to self-monitor. We all have friends and family who track the number of steps they take every day.
The wellness movement is another trend that is making a difference in the cost and effectiveness of the care we provide. This week I saw an interview with a leading light in the wellness movement, Dr. Mark Hyman, who is the founder of the Cleveland Clinic’s Center for Functional Medicine in which he discussed the fact that people’s health status is most heavily influenced by the health status of their friends. He talked about the implication of this finding for population health.
Dr. Hyman’s main message is that the food we eat is the key driver to our health. He is behind movements to change the way people eat and focuses on implementing the social supports around their habits. On the one hand, his message is not new or revolutionary. On the other, as our country faces a way to pay the health bill for an aging and chronically ill population, perhaps these messages will begin to make serious inroads in the public consciousness.
As we look at a possible post-ACA world, perhaps the discussion can revolve around health and health care, and move away from health insurance. When we squarely face the unsupportable cost of our healthcare system, that may be the trigger for us to reframe what we actually seek – health or a way to pay for healthcare products and services that we may not need in such great amounts if we change the way we live.
