MediHealth: Making Health a National Priority

The debate around healthcare in the United States often generates more noise than solutions. As we finish a new election cycle, the extremes of a “government provided” system and a fully “free market” dominate the conversation. Yet neither of these options addresses the foundational issues we face: a system that fails to prioritize health and instead incentivizes reactive care and profit-driven outcomes. To truly transform our healthcare landscape, we need a system that makes health—not just healthcare—a national priority. Enter MediHealth, a bold, value-based concept that integrates public health and primary care as a single government funded system that is supported with trusted education, shared electronic records, and partnership with Medicare/Medicaid to ensure equitable access for every citizen with a focus on health.  Making Health the primary goal of the federal government and personal health knowledge and accountability is the foundational core principle.

The State of U.S. Healthcare: Unsustainable Resources, Subpar Outcomes

America’s healthcare system boasts incredible achievements in science, technology, research, and education. Yet, when measured by health outcomes and costs, we lag the rest of the world’s developed nations significantly. Our life expectancy ranks 28th among developed nations, and our infant mortality rate is 31st according to the Commonwealth Fund Report. Meanwhile, healthcare costs devour 18+% of our challenged GDP—$14,500 per capita and over $4 trillion annually.  This undermines our national investment in other critical areas like infrastructure, security, and defense.  Why do we not demand a better ROI from the healthcare industry?  The answer to that is very complicated, but it is hard to challenge the power of its wealth.

Despite these numbers, the deeper issue is cultural: our system is structured to respond to illness, not to facilitate health. Individuals lack access to basic knowledge, tools, and services that would enable them to take control and be partially accountable for their own health.  Our power/profit-driven industry offers little incentive to focus on prevention, choices or equity when it depends on “sick” people for business in one of my most recent graduate strategy classes, we discussed a primary threat to healthcare … and the largest threat is health! Imagine, healthy people are a threat to this business.  An interesting dilemma. As Dr. Atul Gawande poignantly wrote, the question isn’t whether healthcare is a right—it’s whether health itself should be a national priority.  I think behind security, it should be our highest priority.

A Vision for Health Equity: MediHealth

MediHealth offers a third path, one that bridges the gap between government responsibility and individual accountability. Grounded in the principle that every citizen has a right to health, this program focuses on prevention, wellness, health education, and equity. MediHealth would ensure all Americans have access to foundational health services while teaching and empowering them to make informed, healthier choices. It would start within our education system and become part of our culture.  This is not about free healthcare for all; it’s about providing the tools and resources necessary to navigate health successfully. Those who choose unhealthy behaviors remain accountable for those choices, while the system incentivizes prevention and positive health outcomes without the financial and equity barriers we see today.

The Pillars of MediHealth

MediHealth operates as a federal-state partnership, modeled after the Social Security Act, and functions as a “social insurance” program focused on:

1. Prevention and Health Equity Easy access to standardized preventive services, immunizations, screenings, and wellness programs ensures a fair start for all citizens, regardless of socioeconomic status or geography.  Everyone starts at the same place.
2. Health Literacy and Education Customized programs in schools, communities, and workplaces provide the knowledge necessary to make informed health decisions and help navigate a simplified system. From early childhood through end-of-life care, MediHealth fosters health literacy as a cornerstone of well-being.
3. Integration with Existing Systems By aligning with Medicare, Medicaid, and employer-based insurance programs, MediHealth supports and augments existing structures rather than competing with them. This includes leveraging telehealth, emerging technologies, AI, and a shared electronic health record to streamline care and improve outcomes. This will become the interoperable record we need nationally.  Private entities will provide MediHealth services and seek reimbursement in areas where supported. Services will be provided by federal or state entities for remote or underserved populations to assure equity in access and standard of services.
4. Incentives for Healthy Behavior Drawing on behavioral economics, MediHealth encourages participation through rewards, reduced insurance rates, technology, and gamified health engagement platforms.
5. Data-Driven Insights The program generates invaluable data on population health, enabling continuous improvement and targeted interventions. This aligns with the growing emphasis on transparency in costs, quality, and outcomes.  By integrating public health and primary systems, standardized data can then be collected quickly and systematically to create knowledge for system improvement and assistance in public health concerns.
6. Community Collaboration MediHealth partners with local governments and organizations to address social determinants of health, such as housing, nutrition, education, and mental health services. This ensures solutions are tailored to community needs while maintaining national standards. Funding from local nonprofit health system can be directed to unique community needs in accordance with a MediHealth strategic needs plan.
7. A Value-Based Framework Services are delivered based on proven guidelines and evidence-based practices, ensuring resources are used efficiently and equitably. The focus shifts from short-term ROI to long-term Return on Health (ROH), with measurable outcomes in life expectancy, workforce productivity, and quality of life.

Implementing MediHealth: A Path Forward

MediHealth begins with a foundational investment in early childhood health, prenatal care, and education. This long-term vision is complemented by immediate steps to standardize preventive services, streamline public and private partnerships, and eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies across state programs.  Centralized policy from the federal government, with decentralized execution at the state and community level.

In underserved areas, federal and state assets may provide services directly, ensuring no community is left behind. Over time, MediHealth would replace fragmented state programs, creating a unified, accountable system that prioritizes health.

The MediHealth Difference

MediHealth is not just a health program; it’s a paradigm shift. By prioritizing prevention and education, MediHealth addresses the root causes of poor health outcomes rather than merely treating symptoms. It positions health as a shared national responsibility, balancing individual choices with societal investment.

This approach aligns seamlessly with the federal government’s role in ensuring safety and security for its citizens. A healthier population strengthens our economy, reduces healthcare costs, improves productivity, and enhances quality of life for all Americans. Moreover, MediHealth’s bipartisan appeal—focusing on health rather than healthcare—offers a pragmatic solution to an increasingly politically polarized debate.

Conclusion: A Common Vision for Health

As a nation, we’ve mastered the art of responding to illness, but we’ve neglected the fundamentals of health. MediHealth provides the essential foundation to correct this imbalance. It empowers individuals with the tools, education, and opportunities to achieve health, while holding them accountable for their choices. By investing in prevention and equity, MediHealth ensures that every American could lead a healthy, fulfilling life.

The time to act is now. With MediHealth, we could redefine our healthcare system—not as a reactive, profit-driven industry, but as a proactive, value-based partnership with individuals. This is more than a program; it’s a commitment to the well-being of our nation and a legacy of health for generations to come.

Don Taylor, Col (retired), USAF, MSC

Professor of Practice, University of Texas at Dallas