Medicare Paperwork For AllFull article on BloombergView

PETER ORSZAG

In making his case for universal health care, Senator

Bernie Sanders has reignited a debate over whether the

U.S. should have a single-payer system.

But it’s possible to simplify billing and claims processing

in health care without making such an extreme change.

In 2014, the net cost of health insurance in the U.S. was

almost $200 billion, mostly for billing expenses.

$200BILLION

These costs can readily be lowered.

Other countries with mixed private-public systems have

admin processes that cost 25% - 60% less than ours.

The Center for American Progress has assembled several

proposals that it estimates could save $40 billion a year.

First step? Simplify the transaction process involved in

billing and processing claims.

The consistency of a one payment-processing

system would reduce errors and save as much as:

25%ON CLAIMS PROCESSING

Instead of Medicare for all, as Sanders proposes,

perhaps we just need Medicare processing for all.

It may not sound as sexy, but it’s much more

achievable -- and would bring significant savings.

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