Beset by rising costs and inefficient use of resources, the US health system is primed for reform. In its current state, the cost of care is quickly outstripping society's ability to pay. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the cost of health care has grown 2.5 percentage points more each year since 1970 than the country's gross domestic product. In 2007, health care accounted for 16 percent of the GDP.
Meanwhile, more studies indicate that care itself is often uncoordinated and not patient-centered. Physicians have misaligned incentives to offer more care, not higher quality care.
Other trends that indicate the need for widespread reform:
- Increasing costs of health care
- Exploding new medical technologies that add to the cost of care
- An increased focus on lowering costs within the system
- A decline in employer-sponsored coverage
- Rise in the number of uninsured US residents to 47 million
Issues in Health Care Reform
The ACC has created several fact sheets that discuss issues related to reform. Check back in the coming months as more are posted!