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The Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation in New York that aims to promote a high-performing health care system by supporting independent research on health care issues and making grants to improve health care practice and policy. Every time premiums go up, every time we write a check to cover what health insurance does not cover -- if we have it at all -- we are reminded of just how expensive our health care is. But what we generally don't think about or know is how little many of us get for our money. "The U.S. spends twice per capita what other major industrialized countries spend on health care, and costs continue to rise faster than income," a report by the New York-based Commonwealth Fund says in its latest scorecard on the quality of American health care. "We are headed toward $1 of every $5 of national income going toward health care. We should expect a better return on this investment."
The report measures 37 aspects of care in five broad categories: healthy lives, quality, access, efficiency and equity. What that scorecard showed is discouraging. Not only does the United States lag far behind most industrialized countries in each area, but things are slightly worse than when the foundation issued its first report two years ago. "Overall, national scores declined for 41% of indicators, while one-third (35%) improved, and the rest exhibited no change or were not updated," the report says.
Not all of the news is bad. Problem areas subjected to special attention through published statistics, public pressure and insurance incentives showed significant improvement. This "squeaky wheel" syndrome indicates that using similar tactics could improve other areas of performance as well. The fund also finds considerable inefficiencies in the system that would not only improve the quality of health care but also reduce costs dramatically and make it possible to provide coverage for most Americans while still restraining prices. The report puts special attention on improving access to primary care doctors and the coordination of care. "Investing in primary care with enhanced capacity to provide patients with round-the-clock access, manage chronic conditions, and coordinate care will be key steps in moving to more organized care systems," it says.
POSTED BY: John (August 15, 2008 08:38 PM)
This article is very disingenious... "universal... with low administrative costs"... what world are you living in? "Incentives to promote higher quality and more efficient care"... that requires money and here you are complaining health care is too expensive... "Care.. designed... around patients, not providers or insurers"... Again... who is going to pay for "that" kind of care... "that" kind of care is from the uber wealthy because they pay for it... most people cannot afford uber payments... "implementation of.. technolog"y... technology ain't free and it ain't cheap either... "national goals... exceed benchmarks"... yeah I would like to say the same about the US educational system but I have yet to see improvements, probably because the government GOT involved..."national policies... private-public collaboration"... in other words you want more government control... I think the government should control what you write so this doesn't get published... how about that for cleaning up the bad journalism... if you don't have good ideas, I would suggest not writing them for everybody to read...
POSTED BY: Nomen (August 17, 2008 11:59 AM)
What's wrong with our health care system? Its the same old answer that affects and effects the rest of our country. Greed for maximum profit and lack of ethics. After many months in various hospitals during the past few years I have run into many doctors who continually recommend risky unnecessary surgeries and others who think treating anyone over 70 is a waste of effort. I have seen doctors hurry in,not read their own notes and then prescribe the wrong drugs. I have seen multiple doctors for the same patient not communicating with each other and doing conflicting treatments. I have caught my local hospitals sending out padded bills for treatments and supplies not provided. Doctors performing surgery with a scalpel in one hand and a cellphone in the other carrying on a personal conversation. I have seen nurses emptying bedpans and then handling patients' food without washing in between. I have had several family members die after acquiring in hospital infections like staph and c. dif. I have seen these same hospitals engage in one unnecessary multi-million dollar building project after another while laying off cleaning staff to increase profit. When billing errors occur, I have seen both the health care providers and insurance companies attempt to collect extra payment from the patient rather than correct their billing errors. All of the above comments have one thing in common. They were done to MAXIMIZE profit.
POSTED BY: Randy (August 20, 2008 01:13 PM)
The article failed to mention of mandated coverage by the states. In Texas for example, policies must include coverage for podiatrist, chiropractors and acupuncturists. They also must cover in-vitro fertilization and marriage counseling. No candidate has mentioned this mandated coverage in their platforms. Obama voted for several while he was in the Illinois legislature.
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