Access to high quality, affordable healthcare is a critical concern in everyone’s life. We want the rapid pace of innovation and adoption that has cured disease and delivered world-class treatments. We also want a system that is within the reach of everyone in North Carolina. With state regulation controlling every aspect of health delivery, legislative and bureaucratic policy play a major role in the quality, access and affordability of our healthcare system.
Healthcare policy that removes the patient from the center of the decision-making process introduces incentives that do not align with the goals of providing high quality, accessible, affordable care. For too long, politicians, bureaucrats and special interests have been making the decisions that should be made by the people and families whose lives are directly affected. But even when people can make decisions around health options, state law often stands in the way of healthcare providers offering innovative services.
There is a better approach to developing healthcare options for people throughout North Carolina. This approach is based on the freedom for individuals and families to make personal decisions about which options meet their individual healthcare needs. It creates stronger relationships between patients, doctors and healthcare specialists. And it incorporates the incentives that introduce innovation, serve more of our communities and bring down the cost of care.
North Carolina can promote a high quality, accessible, affordable healthcare system based on choice. Individuals and families need the choices that address their lifestyle and care needs. They need the choice to find the healthcare options that meet their health management goals. They need the choices that introduce incentives to drive down cost while maintaining quality. With more choice to define healthcare options, we can promote a healthcare system that achieves better care outcomes in North Carolina.