So how do we get from here to there? How do we take advantage of these examples of success and get the rest of the system to copy and improve on them?
Complex systems cannot be successfully managed, regulated or reformed from above. They are simply too complex. To have any hope of making such a system functional and workable, reform must start from below.
Ultimately, every problem in our health care system begins with perverse incentives faced by individuals — patients, doctors, nurses, hospital managers and others. Correcting the problems means changing those incentives.
Problems are ultimately solved by people. The best government can do is remove the legal obstacles that prevent people from doing just that.
The Introduction concludes with the authors saying they are confident that, given the freedom to do so, Americans will find better answers to health care problems than any government agency can.
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