FHC #144: Medical education reform and Medicare’s payment crisis

Fixing Healthcare Podcast

In this month’s Diving Deep episode, part of the Fixing Healthcare podcast series, Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr tackle two crucial issues in American healthcare: the need for radical reform in medical education and the growing crisis surrounding Medicare’s payment model.

The episode opens with a critical examination of medical education in the United States. Dr. Pearl discusses how current medical training is rooted in outdated practices that fail to prepare future doctors for the challenges of modern medicine. He emphasizes the need for integrating generative AI into medical school curricula—not just as an add-on but as a core component—in order to improve chronic disease management, diagnostic accuracy and clinical research.

Next up in the episode, the hosts turn their attention to Medicare’s payment model, comparing it to the “cobra effect” where well-intentioned policies inadvertently worsen the problem they aim to solve. Dr. Pearl outlines the flaws in the current system, particularly how today’s fee-for-service model incentivizes volume over value, driving up healthcare costs while compromising patient care. He calls for a shift to a capitated payment model that rewards quality care and preventive medicine.

Click play to learn more or check out the various links below for additional information.

HELPFUL LINKS

• Medical Education Needs Radical Reform: AI, Alone, Isn’t The Answer
• Why Congress Should Change How Medicare Pays Physicians
• Monthly Musings on American Healthcare (Robert Pearl’s newsletter)

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Dr. Robert Pearl is the author of “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine.” All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders.

Fixing Healthcare is a co-production of Dr. Robert Pearl and Jeremy Corr. Subscribe to the show via Apple, Spotify or wherever you find podcasts. Join the conversation or suggest a guest by following the show on Twitter and LinkedIn.

The post FHC #144: Medical education reform and Medicare’s payment crisis appeared first on Fixing Healthcare.