Here are five points:
1. An AAMC survey found 129 of 140 responding medical schools offered a required course on the cost of healthcare during the 2013 to 2014 school year. A reported 40 percent of the schools reported presenting the issue in elective courses.
2. Medical schools are offering the courses in the wake of a value-based system where physicians are rewarded for outcomes rather than the number of surgeries they perform.
3. Patients also have high-deductible health plans, resulting in patients being more selective about providers based on cost.
4. In addition to learning about clinical medicine and prescription, students learn about the cost and how to discuss cost with patients.
5. Although it may be an awkward conversation, medical schools are providing students with a rough script on how to discuss cost with older mentors to save patients money.
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