PBS, KUED Look at Containing Healthcare Costs

The health care cost crisis is likely to become a central focus of the next major health policy debate. A new PBS documentary, Money and Medicine, produced by Roger Weisberg, puts a human face on the excessive health care spending that is doing little or nothing to improve medical outcomes for millions of patients. In addition to illuminating the so-called waste and overtreatment that pervades our medical system, Money and Medicine examines a few promising programs such as Intermountain Healthcare and UCLA Medical Center that are proving it is possible to counteract the forces leading to unnecessary spending, reduce heath care costs, increase patient satisfaction, and improve overall quality of medical care.

Money and Medicine airs on KUED Tuesday, September 25 at 7:00 pm. Although the landmark health care bill that President Obama recently signed into law extends medical coverage to over 30 million Americans, the promise of providing quality health care to all Americans cannot be fulfilled until the country confronts the equally important challenge of controlling medical spending, according to the documentary. Unless something is done to "bend the cost curve," rampant cost increases could easily eviscerate the substantial gains made with the historic legislation.

Following the national presentation of Money and Medicine at 8:00 p.m., KUED presents a live 30-minute follow up program, Money and Medicine: Utah Perspectives.

The half-hour special, hosted by former KTVX News anchor Barb Smith, includes Dr. Brent James, Chief Quality Officer at Intermountain Healthcare, who is featured in the PBS documentary. His innovative ideas concerning health care cost containment garnered the attention of The New York Times. Also on the program is Rich McKeown who served under Governor Michael O. Leavitt at the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. Segments of an interview with Money and Medicine Producer Roger Weisberg conducted by KUED’s Ken Verdoia will be included as well.

Viewers will be invited to submit questions to the guests via Facebook, twitter and email.

###

Release Images:

Dr. James Brent
Download

Please visit our website at www.kued.org/jobs for information about job opportunities at KUED.