Bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel Brings Health Care Discussion to Harris

Leading bioethicist and University of Pennsylvania and Wharton School professor Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel (M.D., Ph.D.), presented a talk entitled "Health Care Reform and the Future of American Medicine" at the Harris School. Dr. Emanuel began by focusing on America's staggering healthcare spending, which topped $2.6 trillion in 2010.

"You guys are really smart, and you have no idea of how big that number is," Dr. Emanuel joked with the audience. He pointed out that America's spend on healthcare could comprise the fifth largest economy in the world, making it slightly bigger than the GDP of France.

Dr. Emanuel went on to consider other challenges facing American healthcare policy, such as growing costs—If current trends continue, by 2080 over 50% of the American GDP will go to healthcare—and a lack of access to care in under-resourced and uninsured communities. He cited research showing that only 55% of Americans follow the healthcare recommendations of their providers, and that cancer survival rates correlate directly with insurance status.

"Almost nobody can say with a straight face that the U.S. has an effective, quality healthcare system, at least compared to other first world countries," said Dr. Emanuel.

Dr. Emanuel also tied healthcare to other policy issues, making the case that overspending on medical care necessitates under-spending in other vital areas.

"Healthcare costs are a great reason why college education is getting underfunded," said Dr. Emanuel, pointing out that in 29 states, Medicaid funding now exceeds funding for primary and secondary education. Dr. Emanuel contended that policymakers across the spectrum need to understand that they are all impacted by a failure to address healthcare costs.

Dr. Emanuel concluded by challenging current and future leaders to embrace and advocate for systemic changes—including "Concierge Medicine" and Group Health Cooperatives—that have been shown to reduce costs while bolstering the effectiveness of care received and overall patient success. He also stressed that attuning healthcare policy to the needs of the urban poor—who are five times more likely to incur high health care costs—can substantially decrease spending while more effectively treating the chronically ill. Dr. Emanuel said that university medical centers in urban areas—like the University of Chicago—are in uniquely advantageous positions to become catalysts for positive change.

"It's literally not rocket science," Dr. Emanuel said near the conclusion of his presentation. "And as University of Chicago students, you'll understand what that means."

Presentations by Harris School faculty member Tomas Philipson and University of Chicago School of Social Service Administration faculty member Harold Pollack followed Dr. Emanuel's presentation, as did a discussion.