Dr. Mehmet Oz Discusses Improving American Health and Reducing Costs
Dr. Mehmet Oz, the CMS Administrator, highlighted the importance of reducing healthcare costs while promoting prolonged activity and productivity among Americans. He shared his insights during an exclusive interview at the Great American State Fair in Washington, D.C.
According to Oz, the most costly aspect of healthcare involves delivering care that is of poor quality. “The most expensive thing we do in healthcare is give bad quality care,” Oz explained. This results in paying unqualified individuals to provide subpar care, and additional expenses arise when addressing the resulting issues.
“Because you’re paying someone who’s not qualified to do a bad job, and you’ve got to pay somebody to fix that job,” he added.
In his role at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Oz emphasized the importance of focusing on “quality, quality, quality.” This includes preventing disease and promoting healthy behaviors, such as preparing nutritious meals at home.
Another critical aspect is ensuring that every healthcare interaction provides value. “We don’t just pay a doctor to do something to you; we want to pay a doctor to take care of you,” he stated.
The use of new healthcare technologies, including AI, is making it easier to deliver high-quality care by assisting patients wherever they are. However, fewer than half of Medicare beneficiaries utilize their free annual wellness visits, according to Oz.
Many assume they are healthy, overlooking potential underlying issues that could result in more expensive treatments later. “They’re lying to themselves,” Oz remarked, underscoring the importance of recognizing health issues early.
Oz believes that improving the nation’s health could lead to significant economic benefits, projecting an increase of $1 trillion in GDP. This potential gain could result from enabling the average American to work an additional year by maintaining better health.
He noted that most Americans desire to work longer but may feel physically unfit. “They start to feel that they’re not in the game anymore,” he mentioned. By focusing on health improvements, the nation could see decreased spending and increased earnings.
Angelica Stabile reports for Fox News Digital on lifestyle topics.