Too Much Medicine: Addressing Inappropriate Care

Physicians estimate that more than 20% of medical care is unnecessary, and it can cause serious patient harm. Surgical procedures can increase the risk of complications and overprescribing can lead to drug addiction, as demonstrated by the opioid crisis. Inappropriate care also comes at a considerable cost: a staggering $265 billion per year.

Initiatives like Choosing Wisely and Practicing Wisely seek to curb unnecessary medical treatments and spending. In this webinar, speakers discussed:

• Research exposing the prevalence of inappropriate care, like excessive screenings and lab tests
• Strategies to improve patient, provider, and payer understanding of what is appropriate care
• A successful model for partnering with physicians to implement Practicing Wisely's Appropriate Use Measures
• The importance of considering appropriate use in quality & value-based payment programs