VIDEO 2: A case study on – Americans sicker than citizens of other developed countries
(reported by Carol Pearson, VOA news)
Transcription of the Story
US healthcare cost set double in the last 30 years but Americans are not necessarily
healthier than they were in the 1980s. Dr. Hamilton Moses analyzed the changes and
trends. He published his findings in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Dr.Moses: “All of our information comes from publicly available resources. That’s a very
important point. This is freely available information although the challenge was to
compile it in a way that was interpretable.”
The researchers found Americans spent between 2 and a half and 3 trillion dollars on
healthcare in 2011. More than any other developed country. And they found that 2
major factors are driving up the cost. The first is that the price of medical and
administrative services has gone up along with the cost of drugs, procedures, and
devices. Dr.Moses said Americans love of technology is part of the problem.
Dr.Moses: “The US has a technology bias. We have a technology preference. We look at
technology for the solution of all problems."
Even though technology can’t solve all the problems, the second factor is simple to identify
but more complex to address. Poor lifestyle habits such as smoking and over-eating
have resulted in epidemic levels of obesity and diabetes, as well as heart disease,
joint pain, and lung diseases. Managing chronic disease is expensive.
Dr.Moses: We’ve not invested heavily in chronic care management or for that matter in
healthcare service innovation nearly to the degree that we have in medical
technology.
Many of these diseases can be prevented through exercises, diet, and maintaining a healthy
weight. Yet in the U.S., prevention has not historically been part of medical care.
Consulting with the nutritionists either by phone or in person or participating in
wellness activities can be expensive. And those services are not normally covered
by health insurance. Again Dr.Moses
Dr.Moses: “The overall amount of spending that occurs with people who have chronic
illness is about 85% of the total.”
Dr.Moses’ research shows that those who spend the most on chronic disease are not elderly
and that their investment in care does not guarantee a long life. A new report from
the organization of economic cooperation and development shows that the US
spends 2 and a half times more than other nations. And despite that, the United
States trails other developed countries in life expectancy coming in at 26th to place
out of 36 members of the organization. Carol Pearson, VOA News.