Despite having the most expensive health care system, the United States ranks last overall compared with six other industrialized countries—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom—on measures of quality, efficiency, access to care, equity, and the ability to lead long, healthy, and productive lives, according to a new Commonwealth Fund report. While there is room for improvement in every country, the U.S. stands out for not getting good value for its health care dollars: it spent $7,290 per capita on health care in 2007 but ranks last among seven countries. The Netherlands, which spent $3,837 per capita on health care that year, ranks first.
Provisions in the new Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that could extend health insurance coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans have the potential to improve the United States's standing, according to Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: How the Performance of the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally, 2010 Update, by Commonwealth Fund researchers Karen Davis, Cathy Schoen, and Kristof Stremikis. In particular, the nation's low marks on measures of health care quality and efficiency demonstrate the need to quickly implement provisions in the new health reform law and stimulus legislation that realign incentives to reward quality and value, invest in preventive care, and expand the use of health information technology.
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Now, let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article:
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Comparison of Health Care Systems: The article discusses a Commonwealth Fund report that compares the health care systems of the United States with six other industrialized countries—Australia, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. The comparison is based on various metrics such as quality, efficiency, access to care, equity, and overall health outcomes.
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U.S. Health Care Ranking: Despite having the most expensive health care system, the United States ranks last among the seven countries in terms of quality, efficiency, access to care, equity, and overall health outcomes. The report highlights a disparity between the high expenditure per capita in the U.S. ($7,290 in 2007) and the perceived lack of value obtained from this spending.
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Potential Impact of Health Care Legislation: The article suggests that provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, aimed at extending health insurance coverage to 32 million uninsured Americans, could potentially improve the United States' standing in international health care comparisons. The authors of the report, Karen Davis, Cathy Schoen, and Kristof Stremikis, argue that the new legislation might address shortcomings in health care quality and efficiency.
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Role of Incentives and Technology: The article emphasizes the need for realigning incentives to reward quality and value, investing in preventive care, and expanding the use of health information technology. These measures are seen as crucial for addressing the identified weaknesses in the U.S. health care system.
In summary, the article underscores the challenges faced by the U.S. health care system, despite its high expenditure. It suggests that legislative efforts, particularly the Affordable Care Act, have the potential to bring about positive changes by addressing issues related to access, quality, and efficiency in health care delivery.
