U.S. Has the Worst Health Care System Compared to These Countries
America ranked last for overall performance and last or near last when it came to data points like access to care, administrative efficiency, equity and health care outcomes, according to a new report published Friday by the Commonwealth Fund, a private foundation that strives to improve health care in America. Paradoxically, the U.S. spends more money on health care compared to other high-income countries, which is notable given its poor performance, the report states.
Though the U.S. ranked lowest in health care
outcomes – and performed badly when it came to population health
outcomes involving infant mortality and life expectancy at age 60 – it
performed better on certain measures like in-hospital deaths in the
month following a heart attack or stroke, according to the report.
The Commonwealth Fund compared the U.S. to
Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the U.K.
"The results suggest the U.S. health care system
should look at other countries' approaches if it wants to achieve an
affordable high-performing health care system that serves all
Americans," the report's abstract states.
Data for the study came from comparative survey
research, in addition to comparative data from the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, the European Observatory on Health
Systems and Policies, and the World Health Organization.
The U.S. health care
system has been under a finely-tuned microscope in recent months as
Republicans strive to repeal and replace former President Obama's
Affordable Care Act. While the House managed to pass a controversial health care bill back in May, the Senate is struggling to do the same.
"Current proposals being debated in Congress
could undo most of that progress by increasing the number of people
without health insurance by more than 20 million over the next decade," Benjamin Sommers of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health told New Scientist. "Rather than narrowing the gap with its rivals, the US might fall further behind."
The Senate GOP's latest attempt to move a bill along hit a snag over the weekend, as Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) had to undergo eye surgery to remove a blood clot. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell released a statement delaying consideration of the bill as McCain recovers. Just one senator could sink
the bill's prospects, given that Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen.
Rand Paul (R-KY) have already said they couldn't support this version of
the bill.
No comments