Saum Sutaria, M.D.

It's just sitting in their government and it's in one entity rather than 50 entities.

It's just sitting in their government and it's in one entity rather than 50 entities.

Right. So then you have the other three components of the spend, and those are all essentially people or somewhat people-based. And the profiles of the three businesses are very different. So the only way you're going to actually, if you wanted to absolutely cut costs, I mean, you're talking about supply-side intervention and price restriction or CAPs. Some states have tried inflation caps.

Right. So then you have the other three components of the spend, and those are all essentially people or somewhat people-based. And the profiles of the three businesses are very different. So the only way you're going to actually, if you wanted to absolutely cut costs, I mean, you're talking about supply-side intervention and price restriction or CAPs. Some states have tried inflation caps.

We're not going to go up more than 3% per year, 4% per year, et cetera. There has been no discussion of, okay, we're just going to cut a quarter of the spend out of the healthcare system. Again, because I think it would be catastrophic in terms of access and other things. That's not to say that we didn't wish we ended up at 3 trillion rather than 4 trillion.

We're not going to go up more than 3% per year, 4% per year, et cetera. There has been no discussion of, okay, we're just going to cut a quarter of the spend out of the healthcare system. Again, because I think it would be catastrophic in terms of access and other things. That's not to say that we didn't wish we ended up at 3 trillion rather than 4 trillion.

If you look back 50 to 75 years, but we're not there. We're Why hasn't this been a higher priority? So if we go back... Because the economy has done so well. One of the important things that's critical is the US economy has outperformed the rest of the world and the rest of developed countries. And we've done it despite the more rapid expansion of healthcare costs than any other country.

If you look back 50 to 75 years, but we're not there. We're Why hasn't this been a higher priority? So if we go back... Because the economy has done so well. One of the important things that's critical is the US economy has outperformed the rest of the world and the rest of developed countries. And we've done it despite the more rapid expansion of healthcare costs than any other country.

Arguably, an economist would say that as healthcare as a percentage of GDP and as a percent of expenditures, I mean, we talked very beginning how much of the consumer spend it is, employer spend it is, would have materially suppressed wages.

Arguably, an economist would say that as healthcare as a percentage of GDP and as a percent of expenditures, I mean, we talked very beginning how much of the consumer spend it is, employer spend it is, would have materially suppressed wages.

But let's ask the question, if it has suppressed wages because money has gone into that with this tax incentive, has that actually made in some ways the US economy more competitive? with wages that have been, again, somewhat suppressed, which makes the American worker more competitive for various types of things that have a global labor footprint rather than just domestic.

But let's ask the question, if it has suppressed wages because money has gone into that with this tax incentive, has that actually made in some ways the US economy more competitive? with wages that have been, again, somewhat suppressed, which makes the American worker more competitive for various types of things that have a global labor footprint rather than just domestic.

I don't think it's a given yet that healthcare costs on a net basis, increasing to where they have, have been a negative for the US economy. I mean, facts that are hard to escape from. The US economy is stronger and has grown more than other developed countries. Fact, the expenditure rate in healthcare is higher. Put aside outcomes for a second, depending on what we want.

I don't think it's a given yet that healthcare costs on a net basis, increasing to where they have, have been a negative for the US economy. I mean, facts that are hard to escape from. The US economy is stronger and has grown more than other developed countries. Fact, the expenditure rate in healthcare is higher. Put aside outcomes for a second, depending on what we want.

Our access and choice, which we prioritize, are better. In fact, the diversity of what the US workforce is doing today is probably more than it was a decade ago. There's more manufacturing return, things like that. I think wage suppression may play a role in that. Again, you'd have to talk to an economist to really understand the quantitative effects there.

Our access and choice, which we prioritize, are better. In fact, the diversity of what the US workforce is doing today is probably more than it was a decade ago. There's more manufacturing return, things like that. I think wage suppression may play a role in that. Again, you'd have to talk to an economist to really understand the quantitative effects there.

But I don't think we've reached the point yet where these healthcare expenditures at a macroeconomic level have deterred the US economy. I think we're in this conversation because the question is, will it?

But I don't think we've reached the point yet where these healthcare expenditures at a macroeconomic level have deterred the US economy. I think we're in this conversation because the question is, will it?

Yeah, well, I think that's an important point. Look, the role of government we haven't talked about. I would argue from my experience, healthcare is overregulated by a lot. But you have to give the government credit when they work to create quality standards that people had to meet. Things like sepsis, when they work to create safety standards around basic problems that you see in healthcare.

Yeah, well, I think that's an important point. Look, the role of government we haven't talked about. I would argue from my experience, healthcare is overregulated by a lot. But you have to give the government credit when they work to create quality standards that people had to meet. Things like sepsis, when they work to create safety standards around basic problems that you see in healthcare.