The Cost of Prevention

The panel discussion included Natalie Davis, Shantanu Agrawal, Tracy Chu, Sunita Mishra, and Sonny Goyal. The speakers highlighted the integral role of preventive care in maintaining optimal health levels. They discussed the different ways their organizations seek to make healthcare more accessible and affordable by addressing patient needs. They also emphasized that preventive care is not just the responsibility of primary care providers; everyone in the healthcare ecosystem should play a part.

They acknowledged that data security is a major issue, across all levels of healthcare, from clinical to social needs, especially in determining the success of preventive measures. They cited the discrepancy in correlating intervention with outcome due to the long lead time between prevention and outcome. They pointed out that the healthcare system was built to treat illness, not prevent it, indicative of the need for a change in approach.

The speakers also highlighted the importance of liaising between providers, insurers and patients for preventive care. They proposed value-based care as a potential solution for aligning incentives and behaviours towards high-quality care at the most affordable price. They discussed the potential impact of a court case that might take away free access to preventive services for 151 million Americans covered by employer-sponsored coverage. The session concluded with the suggestion that better communication across all healthcare stakeholders would enhance the overall healthcare system.