Oklahoma City has become a medical tourist destination, according to an industry expert, leading the charge for a different method of healthcare delivery, specifically one that embraces the principles and fundamentals of the free market.
Dr. Keith Smith is a local physician who believes in a free market healthcare system. He is a strong advocate for transparent pricing.
“Oklahoma City has become a major medical tourist destination because of entrepreneurial physicians committed to quality and value,” said Dr. Smith. “People have been flying in all over the country and outside to get their care in Oklahoma.”
The reason for this, claims Smith, is the ability for healthcare consumers to research costs at several Oklahoma facilities.
In 1997, Dr. Smith began sharing pricing over the phone and now publishes his prices online. It was upon his online publishing that he started seeing patients traveling long distances.
When asked how many healthcare providers or facilities publish their pricing, Dr. Smith answered, “The number of us are small but growing.”
Oklahoma City is also home to the Free Market Medical Association, a membership organization advocating for the practice of free market medicine. Dr. Smith is the association’s co-founder and claims they are increasing in both membership and influence. The association will hold its second annual conference this fall.
Ultimately, Dr. Smith believes that transparent pricing is the best hope for reducing costs in healthcare. “The solution is not found in the government or insurance carriers, but in opening up and allowing a free market system of transparent pricing to work in healthcare, as it has in other industries.”
“In our experience, we have seen prices plummet and quality soar,” said Dr. Smith. “The patients are extremely happy.”
Dr. Smith will be speaking at EXPLORE: Oklahoma Healthcare Summit on Aug. 13-14 in Norman, Okla. For more information on the summit, please visit www.oklahomahealthcaresummit.com.
source: http://www.newsok.com / NEWS OK / by Matthew Moore, PLICO / July 21st, 2015
