Medical bills are a leading cause of personal debt in the United States, even for
those who have health insurance. Although the landmark health care reform legislation that was recently signed into law by President Obama starts to address this problem, the spiraling costs of health care remains one of our nationʼs greatest challenges.
Costs of Care is launching an essay contest today that will solicit hundreds of anecdotes from patients, nurses, and doctors across the nation that illustrate the importance of cost awareness in medicine. Their stories will draw attention to the power clinicians and patients have to identify and curb harmful health care spending on a grassroots level.
Two $1,000 prizes will be awarded to the top submissions – one prize will go to a clinician such as a doctor or nurse, and one prize will go to a patient. Finalist submissions will be judged by:
- Gov. Michael Leavitt, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services
- Atul Gawande, surgeon and New Yorker staff writer
- Tim Johnson, Chief Medical Correspondent of ABC News
- Jeffrey Flier, Dean of Harvard Medical School
- Gov. Michael Dukakis, former Democratic nominee for President of the United States
All submissions will be due on November 1, 2010. Three clinician finalists and three non-clinician finalists will be announced on November 15, and the $1,000 prize winners will be announced on December 15. Finalist anecdotes will be discussed in a high-profile Spring 2011 event, featuring analysis from a multidisciplinary group of thought-leaders.
Leading sponsors of the contest include Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Harvard Pilgrim Health Plan, Tufts Health Plan, and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Please direct all contest-related inquiries to info@costsofcare.org.
Information provided by Costs of Care, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that gives patients and healthcare workers the information they need to deflate medical bills.