---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Broken payment models. Because we rely on…"
description: "\"“Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance companies to pay for care, the treatments offered are not necessarily the most effective or those ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg"
---

#  Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance…

![“Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance companies to pay for care, the treatments offered are not necessarily the most effective or those supported by the most current evidence—they’re simply the treatments that insurance companies have agreed to reimburse. This is not evidence-based…” quote by Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg)

> ““Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance companies to pay for care, the treatments offered are not necessarily the most effective or those supported by the most current evidence—they’re simply the treatments that insurance companies have agreed to reimburse. This is not evidence-based medicine, it’s reimbursement-based medicine.””

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Healthcare payment systems prioritize insurer reimbursement over clinical effectiveness, leading to suboptimal treatment choices.

**In simple terms:** Insurance drives care, not evidence.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for evidence‑based, patient‑centered care.

Themes

healthcare policy ethics

Mood

frustrated concerned

Type

critical analytical

When to use this quote

- clinical decision making
- policy reform
- patient advocacy

Key Concepts

reimbursement evidencebased medicine patientoutcome

Questions to Reflect On

- How can clinicians balance evidence with payer rules?
- What reforms could align reimbursement with outcomes?

A Different Perspective

Insurance constraints may limit access to innovative therapies.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Health](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/) [Medicine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/medicine/)

## Related quotes

> [“Rather than measuring results and rewarding excellent providers with more patients, the focus has been on lifting all boats by attempting to raise all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-e-porter/rather-than-measuring-results-and-rewarding-excellent-providers-with/)

[Michael E. Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-e-porter/)

> [“Modern drug based medicine is as incomplete as a novel written with three vowels. As discordant as a symphony constructed using only some of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-saul/modern-drug-based-medicine-is-as-incomplete-as-a-novel-written-with/)

[Andrew Saul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-saul/)

> [“Evidence based medicine is meant to ensure that quality treatment options are chosen and diagnosis is based on empirical evidence rather than personal assumptions.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertalan-mesko/evidence-based-medicine-is-meant-to-ensure-that-quality-treatment/)

[Bertalan Mesko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertalan-mesko/)

> [Until the 20th century, medicine was more like politics than physics. Its forecasts were often bogus and its record grim. In the 1920s, statisticians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-cummings/until-the-20th-century-medicine-was-more-like-politics-than-physics/)

[Dominic Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-cummings/)

> [“When possible, quality is founded on evidence-based medicine that not only includes clinical data, but also economic and patient-centered outcomes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-b-nash/when-possible-quality-is-founded-on-evidence-based-medicine-that-not/)

David B. Nash

> [“At school you were taught about chemicals in test tubes, equations to describe motion, and maybe something on photosynthesis – about which more later…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-goldacre/at-school-you-were-taught-about-chemicals-in-test-tubes-equations-to-2/)

[Ben Goldacre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-goldacre/)

> [I critique market-based medicine not because I haven't seen its heights but because I've seen its depths.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-farmer/i-critique-market-based-medicine-not-because-i-haven-t-seen-its/)

[Paul Farmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-farmer/)

> [Alternative therapists don't kill many people, but they do make a great teaching tool for the basics of evidence-based medicine, because their efforts to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/alternative-therapists-don-t-kill-many-people-but-they-do-make-a/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [We ought to observe that practice which is the hardest of all-especially for young physicians-we ought to throw in no medicine at all-to abstain-to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-randolph-of-roanoke/we-ought-to-observe-that-practice-which-is-the-hardest-of-all/)

John Randolph of Roanoke

> [being asked to decide between your passion for work and your passion for children was like being asked by your doctor whether you preferred…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-bevington/being-asked-to-decide-between-your-passion-for-work-and-your-passion/)

[Helen Bevington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-bevington/)

> [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [“the doctor hesitated before breaking the news to her. "those aren't stars. it's cancer." - forty years a smoker”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-lovelace/the-doctor-hesitated-before-breaking-the-news-to-her-those-aren-t/)

[Amanda Lovelace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-lovelace/)

> [Tell the truth about your wound, and then you will get a truthful picture of the remedy to apply to it. Don't pack whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clarissa-pinkola-estes/tell-the-truth-about-your-wound-and-then-you-will-get-a-truthful/)

[Clarissa Pinkola Estes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clarissa-pinkola-estes/)

> [I think people need to be comfortable questioning the authority of a doctor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susannah-cahalan/i-think-people-need-to-be-comfortable-questioning-the-authority-of-a/)

[Susannah Cahalan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susannah-cahalan/)

## More by Chris Kresser

> [“While some mainstream medical professionals continue to insist that NCGS doesn’t exist, scientists have validated it as a distinct clinical condition. In one major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/while-some-mainstream-medical-professionals-continue-to-insist-that/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“Vegetables are one of the few foods that every diet philosophy agrees are healthy. That said, vegetables (particularly nonstarchy vegetables) tend to be high…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/vegetables-are-one-of-the-few-foods-that-every-diet-philosophy-agrees/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“Nuts and seeds were third on the nutrient-density scale, with about one-third the score of organ meats. However, most nuts and seeds contain phytates,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/nuts-and-seeds-were-third-on-the-nutrient-density-scale-with-about/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“The grass on your front lawn is a perfect example. Grass contains several vitamins and minerals, but they are largely inaccessible to humans because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/the-grass-on-your-front-lawn-is-a-perfect-example-grass-contains/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“There’s a lot more to the Paleo diet than removing food toxins from your diet. That said, if everyone on a standard American diet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/there-s-a-lot-more-to-the-paleo-diet-than-removing-food-toxins-from/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“Breast-fed babies of macrobiotic mothers may be getting lower levels of vitamin B12, calcium, and magnesium, according to some research, which may result in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/breast-fed-babies-of-macrobiotic-mothers-may-be-getting-lower-levels/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“MINIMIZING TOXINS: YOUR PERSONAL PALEO CODE •  Avoid gluten completely during the Step 1 Reset and for at least two months afterward (for a total…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/minimizing-toxins-your-personal-paleo-code-avoid-gluten-completely/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“A recent study documented a 52 percent decline in sperm concentration and a 59 percent decline in total sperm count in men over a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/a-recent-study-documented-a-52-percent-decline-in-sperm-concentration/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“Your grandparents may have eaten these foods, but chances are you don’t. This has happened in large part because of the misguided campaigns against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/your-grandparents-may-have-eaten-these-foods-but-chances-are-you-don/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“the absorption of most nutrients is dependent on or influenced by the presence of other nutrients. Nutrient enhancers can keep a nutrient soluble or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/the-absorption-of-most-nutrients-is-dependent-on-or-influenced-by-the/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

> [“While some mainstream medical professionals continue to insist that NCGS doesn’t exist, scientists have validated it as a distinct clinical condition. In one major…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/while-some-mainstream-medical-professionals-continue-to-insist-that-2/)

[Chris Kresser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

[Explore all 12 Chris Kresser quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/)

## More Health quotes

> [A thing of beauty is a joy for ever;It's loveliness increase;it will never pass into nothingness;but still will keep a bower quiet for us,and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-keats/a-thing-of-beauty-is-a-joy-for-ever-it-s-loveliness-increase-it-will/)

[John Keats](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-keats/)

> [Water is life, and clean water means health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-hepburn/water-is-life-and-clean-water-means-health/)

[Audrey Hepburn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-hepburn/)

> [Advances in technology will continue to reach far into every sector of our economy. Future job and economic growth in industry, defense, transportation, agriculture,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-bond/advances-in-technology-will-continue-to-reach-far-into-every-sector/)

[Christopher Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-bond/)

> [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/)

Markus Herz

> [I believe in taxation and health care that is outside the usual libertarian mandate, because I don't want people to have to suffer. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-peart/i-believe-in-taxation-and-health-care-that-is-outside-the-usual/)

[Neil Peart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-peart/)

> [It is irresponsible to set an arbitrary cap on how much therapy a Medicare beneficiary can receive. It ignores the health needs of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ensign/it-is-irresponsible-to-set-an-arbitrary-cap-on-how-much-therapy-a/)

[John Ensign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ensign/)

> [The vast majority of organizations today have more than enough intelligence, experience and knowledge to be successful. What they lack is organizational health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-lencioni/the-vast-majority-of-organizations-today-have-more-than-enough/)

[Patrick Lencioni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-lencioni/)

> [Leaders need to compromise, negotiate with members of both parties and ideologies, and reform health care the right way - by developing a strong…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-boustany/leaders-need-to-compromise-negotiate-with-members-of-both-parties-and/)

[Charles Boustany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-boustany/)

> [I listen to my body, I give it things it wants and I eliminate things it doesn't want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-ekland/i-listen-to-my-body-i-give-it-things-it-wants-and-i-eliminate-things/)

[Britt Ekland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-ekland/)

> [As an adventurer...I try to protect against the downside. I make sure I have covered as many eventualities as I can. In the end,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/as-an-adventurer-i-try-to-protect-against-the-downside-i-make-sure-i/)

[Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/)

> [Mental health is an issue close to my heart - an issue, indeed, I've covered repeatedly for Channel 4 News.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cathy-newman/mental-health-is-an-issue-close-to-my-heart-an-issue-indeed-i-ve/)

[Cathy Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cathy-newman/)

> [If you’re going to die on screen, you’ve got to be strong and in good health.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greta-garbo/if-you-re-going-to-die-on-screen-you-ve-got-to-be-strong-and-in-good/)

[Greta Garbo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greta-garbo/)

> [Every patient carries her or his own doctor inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-schweitzer/every-patient-carries-her-or-his-own-doctor-inside/)

[Albert Schweitzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-schweitzer/)

> [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/)

[Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/)

> [Not only is a healthy America a strong America - it's vital to our national defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-e-james/not-only-is-a-healthy-america-a-strong-america-it-s-vital-to-our/)

[John E. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-e-james/)

[Browse all 17,127 Health quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/health/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance companies to pay for care, the treatments offered are not necessarily the most effective or those supported by the most current evidence—they’re simply the treatments that insurance companies have agreed to reimburse. This is not evidence-based medicine, it’s reimbursement-based medicine.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Kresser"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on-insurance-companies-to-pay/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Health"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on-insurance-companies-to-pay/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6ec/chris-kresser-36390_health_broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on_2269805.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Broken payment models. Because we rely on insurance companies to pay for care, the treatments offered are…” — Chris Kresser",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chris Kresser",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kresser/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Broken payment models. Because we rely...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on-insurance-companies-to-pay/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kresser/broken-payment-models-because-we-rely-on-insurance-companies-to-pay/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
