No, Barack, Medical Care is Not a 'Right' Oct 10, 2008
The OECD ranked Canada fifth (out of 29 member countries) in national health expenditures in 1997. Universal health care appeals to the well, but fails the sick. (Human Events Online)
U.S. still flunks health care test, group says Jul 18, 2008
5 percent of national health expenditures on insurance administration in 2005, compared to 6. 9 percent in France, the next highest spending nation, 2. (MSNBC -- Health)
Second national scorecard on US health care system finds no overall improvement Jul 17, 2008
Reducing health insurance administrative costs to the average level of countries with mixed private/public insurance systems (Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerland) would free up $51 billion annually, or more than half the cost of providing comprehensive coverage to all the uninsured in the U.S. Reaching the lowest rate benchmarks (2 to 3 percent of national health expenditures spent on administrative costs) set by the lowest countriesFinland, Japan, and Australiacould save an estimated... (EurekAlert!)
US Health Care Spending Accelerates Slightly Jan 11, 2008
Medical News: U.S. Health Care Spending Accelerates Slightly - in Public Health y, Medicaid are from MedPage Today. Personalize Your Medical News. (MedPage Today)
Health care savings, coverage for all could lower spending $1.5 trillion over 10 years Dec 18, 2007
The Commonwealth Fund contracted with the Lewin Group to estimate the potential effect of each option with a focus on total national health expenditures and the distribution of expenditures across payers the federal government, state and local governments, private employers, and households. The Lewin Group is one of the leading health care and human services consulting firms in the U.S., with more than 35 years of experience serving organizations in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. (EurekAlert!)
CDC issues report card on nation's health Dec 4, 2007
"In 2005, national health care expenditures in the United States totaled $2 trillion, a 7 percent increase from 2004. Hospital spending, which accounts for 31 percent of national health expenditures, increased by 8 percent in 2005.". Private insurance plans paid for 36 percent of total personal health care expenditures in 2005, while the federal government paid 34 percent, state and local governments paid 11 percent, and patients paid for 15 percent out of pocket. (MSNBC -- Health)
How Will Boomers Pay For Long-Term Care? Jul 21, 2007
Spending on long-term care, at roughly 10% of national health expenditures, is large and increasing. However, long-term care expenditures are difficult to measure because free care provided by family and friends is hard to gauge and value. (Forbes -- Business)
U.S. health care is bad for your health Jun 4, 2007
The United States has poor performance on national health expenditures and administrative costs. In terms of equity, Americans with below-average income were more reluctant to visit a physician when sick, and more often did not get a recommended test, fill a prescription or undergo a needed treatment or seek a proper follow-up on a condition. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Alaska could be leader in health care Feb 24, 2007
The U.S. has the highest percent of national health expenditures on insurance administration and overhead at 7. 3 percent. (Anchorage Daily News)
