One hundred years ago, a patient paid a doctor when they wanted medical help. Since then, things have gotten more complicated in the US, and understanding the nuances of the health care system can be difficult (to put it mildly!). At one time or another, patients/families with medical bills, policy makers trying to figure out how to reduce costs, and small business owners looking to purchase a health care plan for a new employee – have all had to grapple with these complexities. In fact, even those within the system – doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and dentists – struggle at times.
This is precisely why we are excited about The Brookings Institution – Khan Academy partnership, which launched last week. The Brookings Institution has world-class experts that have a solid understanding of how the US health care system works. Dr. Darshak Sanghavi is one such expert – a fellow at The Brookings Institution with a clinical background in pediatric cardiology. Dr. Sanghavi has worked hard to build an engaging tutorial that covers key topics like Medicare/Medicaid, the uninsured population, and medical billing. In fact, a terrific introduction to the U.S. health care system can be found here.
Going forward, The Brookings Institution will continue to generate excellent tutorials, which will be made available on Khan Academy, so check back frequently. The goal is to offer a free, high-quality learning experience about health care that everyone can benefit from!