Why the U.S. Healthcare System is a Mess
The U.S. healthcare system consistently underperforms compared to other high-income countries. According to a Commonwealth Fund Report and article in Harvard Business Review, even the best U.S. states fall short when measured against nations like France, Germany, the UK, and Australia.
Key Points
- Performance Gap: The U.S. ranks last in healthcare performance among wealthy countries, despite high spending.
- International Comparison: States with top healthcare metrics in the U.S. still fail to match the standards of leading peer nations.
- Major Issues Identified:
- Persistent insurance coverage gaps.
- High out-of-pocket costs that burden patients.
- Weak and deteriorating primary care infrastructure.
- [ed.] Too much based on profit rather than care.
- Path Forward: Improvement is feasible if the U.S. addresses insurance shortfalls, limits patient expenses, and rebuilds primary care systems, aligning closer to global best practices [and changes the focus from profit-based to care-based.]
Takeaway
Substantial, maybe achievable reforms could vastly improve America’s healthcare landscape, making it competitive with other top-performing countries if leaders prioritize universal coverage, affordability, and renewed investment in primary care (what’s the chance of that?)
Commonwealth Fund Report:
Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System
Dr Bob, Brain Mechanic 