Michael Moore's Latest Target: Your HMO

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

Published on Tuesday, May 15, 2007 by Agence France Presse
US Health System Ranks Last Compared to Other Countries: Studies
WASHINGTON - The US health care system ranks last among other major rich countries for quality, access and efficiency, according to two studies released Tuesday by a health care think tank.

The studies by the Commonwealth Fund found that the United States, which has the most expensive health system in the world, underperforms consistently relative to other countries and differs most notably in the fact that Americans have no universal health insurance coverage.

“The United States stands out as the only nation in these studies that does not ensure access to health care through universal coverage and promotion of a ‘medical home’ for patients,” said Commonwealth Fund president Karen Davis.

“Our failure to ensure health insurance for all and encourage stable, long-term ties between physicians and patients shows in our poor performance on measures of quality, access, efficiency, equity, and health outcomes.”

In “Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: An International Update on the Comparative Performance of American Health Care”, the study focused on interviews with physicians and patients in Australia, Britain, Canada, Germany, New Zealand and the United States who were asked to speak about their experiences and views on their health systems.

The US ranked last in most areas, including access to health care, patient safety, timeliness of care, efficiency and equity. Americans were also last in terms of whether they had a regular physician.

“The US spends twice what the average industrialized country spends on health care but we’re clearly not getting value for the money,” Davis told AFP.

She also noted that 45 million Americans, or 15 percent of the US population, have no health insurance, which contributes to the country’s medical woes.

The United States is also far behind in adopting modern health information technology, which translates into spiralling costs and poor care.

“We pride ourselves on being advanced on so many areas of technology but it’s not the case on health information technology,” Davis said. “Other countries have just moved ahead.”

Britain got the top score in overall ranking among the countries in the study, followed by Germany. New Zealand and Australia tied for third followed by Canada and the United States.

The second study delves into why health costs in the United States are so much higher than in eight other countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development: Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and New Zealand.

The study, “Multinational Comparisons of Health Systems Data,” found that even though the US spends the most on publicly and privately financed health insurance, its citizens had the most potential years of life lost due to circulatory and respiratory diseases as well as diabetes.

“This study blows a lot of myths about the US health system,” Davis said. “We spend three times what the average country spends on a day of hospital care and we also spend twice what the average country spends on prescription medication.”

Health care is likely to be a prominent issue in the 2008 US presidential elections with various candidates already promising to tackle rising costs and the burden placed on big business to provide health insurance.

Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse.

It seems to me that the larger issue is that we as Americans - who have the most expensive health care system in the history of the world - get less value for our dollar then other countries.

they state this "its citizens had the most potential years of life lost due to circulatory and respiratory diseases as well as diabetes" which is due to over weight which Americia has one of the biggest problems. They say our health care is failing. It seems as they only looked at raw numbers and did not figure in weight and those issue. Not a good source.

[djnemo65]

Originally Posted by firstdown

they state this "its citizens had the most potential years of life lost due to circulatory and respiratory diseases as well as diabetes" which is due to over weight which Americia has one of the biggest problems. They say our health care is failing. It seems as they only looked at raw numbers and did not figure in weight and those issue. Not a good source.

Well I haven't read the study in detail (neither have you), for me the most interesting thing - and believe me this is not the first place this has been suggested - is that America spends more now than any country in the history of the world on health care and still ranks lower then other countries in many categories.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by djnemo65

Well I haven't read the study in detail (neither have you), for me the most interesting thing - and believe me this is not the first place this has been suggested - is that America spends more now than any country in the history of the world on health care and still ranks lower then other countries in many categories.

Honestly, I didn't think the study revealed anything new. People have known for quite some time that we Americans don't get the most bang for our health care buck. But, I think it is fair to say that America's unprecedented weight problems are a major factor in driving up every American's health care expenditures. I would like to see a study that compares the U.S. to other developed countries and somehow takes into account our record obesity rates.

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Honestly, I didn't think the study revealed anything new. People have known for quite some time that we Americans don't get the most bang for our health care buck. But, I think it is fair to say that America's unprecedented weight problems are a major factor in driving up every American's health care expenditures. I would like to see a study that compares the U.S. to other developed countries and somehow takes into account our record obesity rates.

You are so politically correct SGG. Where ya been? I thought maybe somebody shot the sheriff but missed the deputy....?

Really you are correct America's weight problems are a giant snowball effect in the healthcare system.....that gets passed along to ALL that CAN afford healthcare.

The unfurtunate folks (which sucks) that also get's passed along to the folks that pay for healthcare.

Premiums continue to increace and benefits get cut, it's a no win for the average working man.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by skinsfan_nn

You are so politically correct SGG. Where ya been? I thought maybe somebody shot the sheriff but missed the deputy....?

Hey Skinsfan_nn. I've been real busy lately finishing my final exams, sending papers to the State Bar, and I just bought my first house. Needless to say, I haven't had time to do much of anything fun (e.g., post a lot on thewarpath)!

[skinsfan_nn]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Hey Skinsfan_nn. I've been real busy lately finishing my final exams, sending papers to the State Bar, and I just bought my first house. Needless to say, I haven't had time to do much of anything fun (e.g., post a lot on thewarpath)!

Great Man! Good luck & Congrads!

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Honestly, I didn't think the study revealed anything new. People have known for quite some time that we Americans don't get the most bang for our health care buck. But, I think it is fair to say that America's unprecedented weight problems are a major factor in driving up every American's health care expenditures. I would like to see a study that compares the U.S. to other developed countries and somehow takes into account our record obesity rates.

I cannot agree with that statement. I would have to see a real study on the issue which factors in all aspects of health and insurance. For example if my family has a history of high blood preasure, colestoral, heart problems, diabetes etc... and I smoke, eat high fat foods, drink every night, don't exercise, over weight, doctors can spend all they want trying to keep me healthy but all will fail at some point. This has to be taken into consideration when determining if we have a failing system. I agree there are area that need some work but the system as a whole is not broken.