Potential US Health Care Savings Based on Clinician Views of Feasible Site-of-Care Shifts

August 14, 2024, Paper: "Question  Based on clinician views, how much care from the hospital could be shifted to alternative sites without compromising clinical outcomes, and what would be the associated net savings? Findings  In this survey study of 1069 clinicians surveyed in 2021 and historical claims data from 2019, 10.3 percentage points of commercial and 10.9 percentage points of Medicare volume could be shifted from the hospital to alternative sites using today’s technology without compromising clinical outcomes. Based on observed reimbursement rates, this would be associated with savings of $113.8 billion (3.2%) to $147.7 billion (4.1%) in 2019 dollars annually for the overall US health care system. Meaning  These findings suggest that while a substantial net savings opportunity may remain from site-of-care shifts, ongoing alignment among organizations, clinicians, and policymakers is needed to ensure the best outcomes for patients."