Sick to Debt: Why Out-of-Pocket Costs Are So High and What We Can Do About It

Needs Statement

Physicians, nurses, pharmacists, advanced practice providers, social workers, health administrators, basic scientists, clinical and health services researchers, healthcare administrators, and postgraduate, graduate, and other healthcare trainees benefit from expert information about the legislative and regulatory activities that shape healthcare structure and delivery. By integrating discussions of complex finance and accountability systems, medical practice policies, and social, economic, and political determinants of health, the series aims to prepare healthcare teams for effective policy engagement and advocacy to improve medical care and public health outcomes for all patients.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of the activity, the participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate greater understanding of trends in out-of-pocket healthcare expenses in the United States.
• Explore what clinicians can do to navigate these expenses.
• Discuss policy efforts to make these expenses more transparent.

Target Audience

Competencies

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Interprofessional Communication
• Professionalism
• Quality Improvement
• Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures
• Literature Review
• Panel Discussion

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of the participation in the activity.

This activity has been designated by Baylor College of Medicine for 1 credit of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.

Social Work: The Baylor College of Medicine Division of Continuing Professional Development (License Number 7270) is an approved continuing education provider for Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. This activity has been approved for 1 continuing education unit.

Term of Approval

October 1, 2024 through October 31, 2026. Original release date: October 31, 2024.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.