A behavioral blueprint for improving health care policy

Behavioral po licy to im prove health and health care often relies on interventions, such as nudges, which target individual behaviors. But the m ost prom ising applications o f behavioral insights in this area involve more far-reaching and systemic interventions. In this article, we propose a series o f policies inspired by behavioral research that we believe offer the greatest potential for success. These include interventions to improve health-re la ted behaviors, health insurance access, decisions about insurance plans, end-of-life care, and rates of medical (for example, organ and blood) donation. We conclude w ith a discussion of new technologies, such as e lectron ic m edical records and w ebor m obile-based decision apps, which can enhance docto r and patient adherence to best medical practices. These technologies, however, also pose new challenges that can underm ine the effectiveness of medical care delivery. Loewenstein, G., Hagmann, D., Schwartz, J., Ericson, K., Kessler, J. B., Bhargava, S...... Zikmund-Fisher, B. J. (2017). A behavioral blueprint for improving health care policy. Behavioral Science & Policy, 5(1), 53-66. a publication of the behavioral science & policy association 53