Will the surgical world become flat?
We obtained price and quality information for nonurgent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery from a sample of internationally patronized hospitals in low-wage countries. We found rising quality standards, availability of U.S.-trained physicians, and prices far below insurer-negotiated U.S. prices. The price differentials easily accommodated the incentive specified as a condition for surgery abroad by about 30 percent of surveyed households with a sick member. These findings foreshadow growth in offshoring of expensive nonemergency surgeries among increasingly cost-sensitive U.S. consumers and purchasers.
Milstein
Arnold
A
Mercer Health and Benefits, San Francisco, USA. arnold.milstein@mercer.com
Smith
Mark
M
D000068:Accreditation; D002140:California; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D003906:Developing Countries / Q000191:economics*; D005251:Fees, Medical; D005102:Health Expenditures; D017722:Hospital Charges; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D038622:Internationality; D007591:Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; D008800:Mexico; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013785:Thailand; D014195:Travel; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States