Bloomberg/Business week had a piece this week about a drug company that is selling a cancer drug in Germany with a money back guarantee. It is a very expensive drug but if the cancer worsens in the next three to six months all drug cost is refunded.
The article goes on to indicate the idea of results oriented health care in general is catching on with even insurance companies discussing the idea of reimbursements based upon patient outcomes.
I really like the idea of results based payouts. It is not that doctors would not want the best for the patients now but it might cut back on tests and procedures that are not completely necessary knowing reimbursement might not be forthcoming if the condition worsens.
This is a very short synopsis of a fairly long article. For a more in-depth report on the subject read this week’s Bloomberg/Business week.
Ken Dillenburg