[jhundal]

Not sure how many folks are aware of this, but the ACA included funding for an 'Innovation Center' to run experiments on potential approaches to improve medical outcomes and cut costs: http://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/01/14/37719262...

I think that the A/B tests you propose would be great, though there will be plenty of ideologues still finding excuses not to accept the results.

Also, hi Nate! You probably don't remember, but you interviewed me sometime around December 2011.

[tomjen3]

We shouldn't experiment with sick people, at least with their informed and voluntary consent.

[frabcus]

It is unethical NOT to A/B test, because you may be doing the worst thing for all patients. You're right that it should be generally known this is done.

[jhundal]

I certainly agree for trials for treatments for specific ailments. But insurers, hospital administrators, and others have always been making decisions that balance clinical outcomes and cost of care without patients knowing such a decision has been made. The experiments I refer to are similar to those choices and typically the funding will go testing choices that haven't been made because they are more costly in the short run.