Skip to content
MarketScale
‹ Back to IndustriesHealthcare

A Second Opinion Could Help Curb Wasteful Healthcare Spending in the US

On today’s episode of the MarketScale Healthcare podcast, Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin explores waste in the American healthcare system. A recent October 2019 study in JAMA by Dr. William Shrank showed waste makes up almost a quarter, or 25%, of U.S. healthcare spending, which, when quantified, can reach $935 billion by some estimates….

This story was produced through MarketScale. See how Healthcare teams put it to work with Executive Thought Leadership.

Share

On today’s episode of the MarketScale Healthcare podcast, Voice of B2B Daniel Litwin explores waste in the American healthcare system.

A recent October 2019 study in JAMA by Dr. William Shrank showed waste makes up almost a quarter, or 25%, of U.S. healthcare spending, which, when quantified, can reach $935 billion by some estimates.

How does this impact the system as a whole? What are some potential solutions? We’re spoke to both of those major questions today with Jason Melton, CEO of 2nd.MD, who’s looking to combat waste in our healthcare system through medtech.

Specializing in medical certainty, 2nd.MD connects patients to a network of hundreds of expert physicians ready to give a second opinion on their diagnosis and treatment plan, with the goal being to create an optimum treatment plan from the beginning to significantly improve outcomes and reduce ineffective or unnecessary medical spend.

Melton and Litwin spend the podcast breaking down…

  • How 30% of healthcare costs are wasted on unnecessary or incorrect care
  • How wasteful spending fits into the broader dynamic of overspending in American healthcare
  • The financial and health effects of incorrect care on physicians and patients
  • Where a medtech solution fits into the mission to curb wasteful care spending
  • How 2nd.MD created and expanded their network of physicians

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in the Healthcare Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!

Twitter – @MarketScale

Facebook – facebook.com/marketscale

LinkedIn – linkedin.com/company/marketscale

Healthcare: are you visible to AI?

Before they reach out, Healthcare buyers ask AI engines which vendors to trust. See how AI describes your company today, and where competitors show up instead.

Free workspace

You just read one expert. Imagine publishing your whole team.

This article was produced through MarketScale. Create a free workspace and turn your own team's expertise into articles, video, and social posts. No credit card, no demo required.

NPS +73 · 1,000+ creators · 38+ countries

What you get, free

Your own MarketScale Studio workspace
One video edit a month, on us
AI writing, editing, and publishing tools
In-platform coaching to learn the system

More Healthcare Insights

Automation adoption gap widens in US manufacturing as medtech presses ahead

Automation adoption gap widens in US manufacturing as medtech presses ahead

Automation in US manufacturing lags, with 80% of factories lacking automation tools. In contrast, medtech manufacturers are advancing with technologies like micro-molding and ultrasonic welding. This disparity highlights a growing gap in technology adoption across different sectors.

  • 0180% of US factories have no automation.
  • 02Medtech manufacturers are investing in automation technologies.
  • 03There's an increasing divide in technology adoption across industries.

Jul 12, 2026

Clinical AI, specialty pharmacy, and consolidation: what's reshaping healthcare operations right now

Clinical AI, specialty pharmacy, and consolidation: what's reshaping healthcare operations right now

The healthcare industry is being reshaped by advancements in AI, the direct involvement of companies like OpenAI with hospitals, and the increasing trend of mergers and acquisitions in specialty pharmacy. Nurses are actively participating in the design of AI tools, emphasizing the collaborative nature of these technological advancements. These changes are expected to have significant implications for health system operations.

  • 01Nurses are co-designing AI tools for healthcare.
  • 02OpenAI is engaging directly with hospitals.
  • 03Specialty pharmacy mergers and acquisitions are on the rise.

Jul 12, 2026

Healthcare's digital skills gap has a measurement problem, and new research is pushing for a fix

Healthcare's digital skills gap has a measurement problem, and new research is pushing for a fix

A recent examination of the healthcare industry's digital skills gap reveals that the majority of digital health competency tools currently available are heavily centered on nursing, indicating a lack of comprehensive tools validated for a broader interprofessional healthcare workforce. This discrepancy highlights the need for a more inclusive approach to developing digital skills competencies across various healthcare roles.

  • 01Current digital health competency tools focus mainly on nursing.
  • 02There's a recognized need for validated interprofessional tools in healthcare.
  • 03New research aims to address the digital skills gap in healthcare.

Jul 12, 2026

Explore More Healthcare Insights

Read more expert perspectives from across Healthcare.

Browse Healthcare Hub