In the news: Grand Junction physicians put patient care over revenue, create access for community

Physicians in Mesa County, IA may have the healthcare reform solution we’ve all been looking for. In 2006, two hospitals in the area reported some of the lowest Medicare reimbursement rates in the country: $2,664 per year compared to a national average of $3,193, according to a June 3 article in The Daily Sentinel.

The successful healthcare system, in which physicians accept government-issued insurance plans and provide a system of quality checks and balances, may be a result of  Grand Junction’s small market, which poses little competition, and geographically isolated location. However, the trick may be that the model relies on a collaborative effort among physicians, who focus more on patient care than making money.