by
Joan Trombetti, Writer | January 28, 2009
"U.S. healthcare providers are very active in the international market, and many are trying to attract medical tourists to their U.S. facilities." Dale Van Demark
There have been several initiatives that have helped promote clinical programs related to U.S. inbound medical tourism. The establishment of international partnerships and the formation of international health care projects have led to increased awareness of the opportunities for foreign patients to travel to the U.S. for care. Many U.S. medical centers have listed their services in international medical directories, and foreign physicians and U.S. physicians training abroad have helped to increase the number of referrals to the U.S.
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Other factors to consider
According to Van Demark, medical tourism does come with a risk to patients and payers. He says that, generally any individuals who receive medical treatment overseas have to depend on the legal process that is available in that country should there be any problems, which may present challenges. "This could lead to increased risk for insurers and employers that offer medical tourism products as patients may look to local 'deep pockets' for a remedy," says Van Demark.
Van Demark said that government reaction to medical tourism has been mixed. The U.S. Special Committee on Aging has authorized the reaction of a task force to examine the situation. California has adopted a law to specifically allow for insurers to pay providers in Mexico, and other states have considered similar legislation - some that would even encourage state workers to seek treatment abroad.
Future of medical tourism
Overall, the impact of medical tourism - based on Deloitte reporting a 100% increase by 2010 - will have an enormous negative financial impact - costing U.S. health care providers as much as six billion dollars on the higher end of the scale.
The combination of the number of outbound medical tourists, further hikes in healthcare costs and the price advantage of leaving the U.S. for medical care - plays a significant role on just how great the costs will be.
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