Hans Jeppesen from Charter Health on Reforming Healthcare: A $1 Trillion Opportunity
Hans Jeppesen, MD, MBA is an internal medicine physician and the Chief Executive Officer of Charter Health PC, a private practice affiliated with Mass General Brigham Community Physicians. Based on the campus of MGB Salem Hospital, Charter Health is a multidisciplinary group with six physicians and twelve nurse practitioners, offering comprehensive services including primary care, behavioral health, hospital medicine, and nursing home care.
Dr. Hans Jeppesen spoke to the Salem Rotary Club about the urgent need for reform in the U.S. healthcare system. He emphasized that while the country spends significantly more on healthcare than any other nation—over $13,000 per person annually, totaling more than 17 percent of the national GDP—the outcomes are not keeping pace with this level of investment. In contrast, Switzerland, which has the second-highest per capita healthcare spending, allocates less than 10 percent of its GDP to health care. Despite this massive investment, 30 million Americans remain uninsured, and out-of-pocket expenses totaled $474 billion in 2022 alone.
Dr. Jeppesen argued that the primary issue is not the amount of care being delivered, but rather the cost of that care. Compared to other developed nations like Switzerland, Norway, and Germany, the United States has fewer hospital admissions, shorter stays, and fewer physician consultations. It also has about half as many doctors and fewer nurses per capita. Yet, the U.S. has worse outcomes in several key areas, including avoidable mortality, hospitalizations for chronic conditions like congestive heart failure and diabetes, and maternal mortality. The U.S. does fare better in treating smoking-related illnesses, but this is a rare bright spot in an otherwise troubling picture.
To address these challenges, Dr. Jeppesen proposed a set of reforms aimed at reducing costs and improving system efficiency. These include aligning the cost of drugs, devices, and medical goods with international pricing standards, merging Medicare and Medicaid to streamline administration, eliminating burdensome non-clinical tasks for healthcare providers, and digitizing records for better efficiency. He also called for increased transparency in hospital pricing, caps on private insurance reimbursement rates, and higher Medicaid payments to providers.
According to Dr. Jeppesen, if the U.S. were able to bring its per capita healthcare spending in line with Switzerland, it could save well over $1 trillion annually. His presentation offered a sobering look at the inefficiencies in the current system, along with a hopeful path forward grounded in practical, data-driven solutions.
Dr. Jeppesen founded Charter Health in 2017, following leadership roles as Chief of Hospital Medicine at both Salem Hospital and Cambridge Health Alliance. Before beginning his medical training at the age of 33, he built a career in corporate banking and management consulting. He began his professional journey as a financial analyst at an environmental engineering firm in his hometown of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Charter Health PC is an internal medicine practice committed to promoting health and well-being by making a positive impact at every patient encounter, developing needed community services, and empowering providers to practice with entrepreneurial spirit. Serving several Boston-area communities—including Salem, Chelsea, Lynn, Peabody, Danvers, and Beverly—Charter Health offers comprehensive care across various settings, including Primary Care, Women’s Health, Weight Management, Addiction Medicine, Hospital Medicine, and Geriatric Medicine in nursing homes. As a private practice member of the Mass General Brigham Health System, Charter Health coordinates closely with leading specialists and hospitals to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.
Dr. Jeppesen lives in Boxford, Massachusetts with his wife, Shan, and their three children. Outside of work, he enjoys fishing, woodworking, playing guitar, and participating in his town’s softball league.
THE SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION LINK IS LIVE!
Tell your friends! Tell your neighbors! Tell the whole city! The Salem Rotary Club Scholarship Application link is live on the website. You can also access it here.
EVENT TICKETS
April 16: 4 seats available for LEAP’s Great Expectations: The Magic of Mentoring event at Danversport on Wednesday
May 3: 4 tickets to the Salem Academy's Reach for College Gala
AUCTION SUCCESS!
The Salem Rotary Auction was a tremendous success, thanks to the hard work and creativity of the entire event team. With outstanding decorations, food, and drinks, the evening drew generous participation from attendees who enthusiastically bid on a wide array of items. This collective effort once again made a meaningful impact in supporting student scholarships. Attendees are encouraged to join tomorrow’s lunch for a full recap of the event’s achievements.
The Salem Pantry
.png)
