The cost of healthcare continues to skyrocket. Medical malpractice lawsuits, expensive tests, medical errors, aging technology and a pricing strategy meant to deal with HMOs and insurance companies all contribute to the problem. Businesses that currently pay for the health insurance of their employees are left contemplating how to shift more of the burden onto employees.

The solutions to these and other healthcare problems are complex when viewed as an entirety. The approach must keep the big picture in mind, but focus on the many pieces, just as an engineer or writer might do. For example, healthier people don’t get sick as often as people that neglect their health. Ensuring that all people that want private health insurance have access to it would be one way to get people to go to their family doctor, rather than the ER when they are sick. They would also benefit from regular preventative care, taking care of medical issues before they become long term conditions.

Medical malpractice lawsuits are often blamed for the escalating cost of healthcare. But physicians do make mistakes. Computer technology, including the use of electronic medical records can help reduce clinical errors, and avoid other errors through “smart technology” that monitors treatments, prescription interactions, and other ways to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery. We can do more in this area to assist hospitals and clinics in this area.

No discussion of the cost of healthcare is complete without a provision for homecare services. I had a great deal of experience in this area while caring for my wife, at home, during her long battle with multiple sclerosis. There is plenty of opportunity for improvement here, both legislatively and with insurance coverage, and I will see that it gets addressed.

Reducing the cost of healthcare is the first step in reducing the cost of health insurance. Other activities must address grouping, pooling, coverage options, private pay, and many other aspects affecting the cost of insurance. The solutions will come from the private sector, and less regulation is usually better than more regulation.