Imagine a government initiative that was supported by Republicans and Democrats alike, saved billions of dollars, improved health care, and was adopted around the world. It happened in 1983, and it continues today. 1 October 2013 marked 30 years since Medicare began paying hospitals by diagnosis-related group (DRG), arguably the most influential innovation in the history of health care financing.
–Kevin Quinn, Annals of Internal Medicine
Whether you agree with the assertions or not, that’s a very good opening paragraph, far better than just about anything you’ll read in an academic journal. (Stylistically, the “1 October 2013” leading off a sentence isn’t so good. Editorial convention, I gather.)
