Some of the tough decisions required by a national health plan

Article Abstract:

Approximately 35 million people in the US have no health insurance and millions more have insurance that is inadequate. Yet the US spends more money on medical care than any other industrialized nation. Eleven percent of the gross national budget, or 500 billion dollars, was spent in 1987 on medical care. A national health plan is proposed that would provide care for everyone and control the expenses. Difficult decisions will have to be made, however, as to what services will be provided, to whom and under what circumstances. Such decisions will be based on the cost-effectiveness of the medical intervention instead of purely on medical need. The cost-effectiveness is analyzed as cost per year of life saved. For decisions to be made on cost-effectiveness, careful analysis must be made of the health care issues; the methods of evaluating cost-effectiveness that are currently used are not adequate. The effectiveness of medical intervention is to be based on clinical trials, epidemiological studies, and the opinions of experts in the field. Studies of various medical interventions such as cancer screening, admittance into coronary care units, bypass surgery, and treatments for the reduction of blood cholesterol give information on when and under what circumstances testing or treatment is cost-effective. Money can be saved, for example, by determining high-risk versus low-risk patients, and treating or testing only those with a high risk. The services provided by the national health plan will depend on how much money is available, on the alternative uses of the money, and the cost-effectiveness of those alternatives.

Finance, Medical policy, Health policy

---

The health sector's share of the gross national product

Article Abstract:

In the late 1940s, the total health care cost in the United States was under five percent of the gross national product (GNP). Since that time, the prices of health care have risen 1.6 percent faster per year than other prices. Combined with a growth in the quantity of health care that was 0.9 percent faster than other quantities, the result is a total cost of medical and health care which exceeds 11 percent of the GNP. Predictions are difficult to make, but the trends indicate that between 13 and 15 percent of the GNP will be devoted to health care by the year 2000. Insurance companies, federal and state governments, and others who cover the bill are likely to promote cost containment; savings may come from several sources. Productivity may be increased, particularly if management overhead can be reduced. Cost containment efforts may also produce innovations that lead to greater productivity. Pressure to reduce the quantity of health care will undoubtedly be exerted, but will be met with resistance by a society which favors broadening the base of health care recipients. Also likely to meet with resistance are efforts to increase the economic burden on the patient. This would be effective, however, in reducing demand for health care services. The growth in health care cost will ultimately make rationing of health care an economic necessity. The only question which remains is how the rationing will be implemented. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Analysis, Medical economics, Statistics, Health planning

---

Breast cancer activists seek voice in research decisions

Article Abstract:

The National Breast Cancer Coalition has begun an initiative called Project LEAD that is aimed at influencing how federal breast cancer research funds are spent. Some scientists disagree with the group's plans to place its members on advisory committees.

Political activity, Political aspects, Breast cancer, Federal aid to medical research, Medical research assistance, National Breast Cancer Coalition

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Balancing on the tides. Ready for anything. Wider ride to the Rainbow
• Abstracts: GIS gains ground as disaster mitigation tool. Net results. Shake, rattle and map
• Abstracts: Small town, high-tech solution. Desalination facility tests three membrane technologies
• Abstracts: Ending welfare, leaving the poor to face new risk. International aid. Benefits, opportunities decline for current welfare recipients
• Abstracts: The falcon and the firebrand. The inadvertent heroine. An unwritten life

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.