Great commentary, Katy. You mix experience, common sense and humor. I have visited the Surgery Center of Oklahoma with my colleagues from AAPS. Of course CON makes it impossible to clone his surgery center in many other states.
Thanks so much Dr. Eck, you’re so right about CON laws. I’m hopeful that employers will start to build private hospitals for their own populations that don’t have to go through those rules. Time will tell.
That’s a good question - lemme see what I can dig up. There are many LinkedIn posts that get into this but I’ll have to think about if there’s a good 101 on it that’s out there. I am expecting to publish on this the week after next.
Thanks for the shoutout Katy. Another powerful graphic can be found by searching for Mark Perry's "Chart of the Century." It clearly illustrates how much faster hospital prices have been growing relative to everything else. Remember how we were all freaking out about the cost of buying cars during the pandemic? The time series for new cars is WAY below the indices for all medical services, which is way below the index looking at hospitals alone. Notice that the second steepest price increases are for college tuition. So I work at the intersection of the 2 components of the economy that are most responsible for robbing the middle class of their hard-earned dollars.
Yes! Thank you so much Vivian. When I went looking for the chart to put in my article, THAT was the one I had in my mind, but I didn't know the name of it or the creator name who assembled it from the BLS data. I'm going to swap it out! Thanks again, and thank you especially for all you're doing to hold the industry feet to the fire.
Well said. Ive long believed employers as " bulk purchasers" could impact the market. Will you write about how hospitals use CON laws (another con job) to prevent competition and create monopolies? Even with price transparency, employers cant shop if there's no competition.
I'd like to send you a copy of the letter Inova Health System sent the Fairfax County Health Care Advisoty Board (on which I serve), justifying the 10% rate increase they are instituting 1/1/2026. I think you might find it interesting. Whats best way to send it to you, if you're interested?
Great commentary, Katy. You mix experience, common sense and humor. I have visited the Surgery Center of Oklahoma with my colleagues from AAPS. Of course CON makes it impossible to clone his surgery center in many other states.
Thanks so much Dr. Eck, you’re so right about CON laws. I’m hopeful that employers will start to build private hospitals for their own populations that don’t have to go through those rules. Time will tell.
Is there a go-to blog or article that best articulates the "there is no market in health care" reality?
That’s a good question - lemme see what I can dig up. There are many LinkedIn posts that get into this but I’ll have to think about if there’s a good 101 on it that’s out there. I am expecting to publish on this the week after next.
Thank you! Looking forward to reading what you can dig up and what you're publishing.
Thanks for the shoutout Katy. Another powerful graphic can be found by searching for Mark Perry's "Chart of the Century." It clearly illustrates how much faster hospital prices have been growing relative to everything else. Remember how we were all freaking out about the cost of buying cars during the pandemic? The time series for new cars is WAY below the indices for all medical services, which is way below the index looking at hospitals alone. Notice that the second steepest price increases are for college tuition. So I work at the intersection of the 2 components of the economy that are most responsible for robbing the middle class of their hard-earned dollars.
Yes! Thank you so much Vivian. When I went looking for the chart to put in my article, THAT was the one I had in my mind, but I didn't know the name of it or the creator name who assembled it from the BLS data. I'm going to swap it out! Thanks again, and thank you especially for all you're doing to hold the industry feet to the fire.
Well said. Ive long believed employers as " bulk purchasers" could impact the market. Will you write about how hospitals use CON laws (another con job) to prevent competition and create monopolies? Even with price transparency, employers cant shop if there's no competition.
Ugh great point about CON laws!!! The reason I say “ugh” is that there’s just so much darned policy to change and so little will to do it out there.
I'd like to send you a copy of the letter Inova Health System sent the Fairfax County Health Care Advisoty Board (on which I serve), justifying the 10% rate increase they are instituting 1/1/2026. I think you might find it interesting. Whats best way to send it to you, if you're interested?
Amazing. I'll DM you on Linkedin! Thanks, Bill!