The best health care system in the world?

Article Abstract:

The United States has the best health care system in the world technologically but is lacking in four other measurements of good health care. Services are not easily available nor are health care resources used efficiently. The United States spends 40% more than does Canada for health care and much more than England, though England's level of public health is equivalent to the US. There is not distributional equity. A specific level of health care is not available to all citizens. To have the best health care system in the world, the United States needs to work hardest to improve efficiency and equal access to health care. Other criteria are access to primary care, infant mortality rates and public satisfaction relative to per capita cost. The United States lags in all three. The best medical practice can also be assessed by examining maintenance of technical standards in diagnosis and treatment, preventive measures, and rehabilitation and nursing care availability.

Evaluation

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No pain, no gain: perspectives on cost containment

Article Abstract:

The US spends too much money on health care, and this amount is increasing at a rapid rate. Many different strategies have been proposed to contain the cost of health care. These proposals take many different approaches to containment of health care costs, but most should be considered within the same framework. There are two bad reasons for controlling health care costs. These are to reduce the amount of the gross national product spent on health care or to increase US competitiveness in the global market. There are three good reasons for containing health care costs. These include eliminating unnecessary treatments and the inefficient use of resources. Another is to lower the profits of certain providers of health care services and supplies. Three different approaches can be taken towards containing health care costs, but none are without drawbacks.

Economic aspects, Finance, Health care reform

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Managed care and merger mania

Article Abstract:

Managed care may be responsible for the rash of mergers occurring in the health care industry. Managed care arose as a means of reigning in health care costs, which were rising twice as fast as the rest of the economy until 1990. Managed care has succeeded in this goal. However, the transformation of the physician-patient relationship into a business transaction may have harmed both physicians and patients. Mergers may lead to economies of scale, but they can also create large, inefficient companies. The most detrimental mergers are those done to increase market share or inflate stock prices.

Analysis, Mergers, acquisitions and divestments, Acquisitions and mergers, Hospitals, Ethical aspects, Managed care plans (Medical care)

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