Authors: Baucus, M

Publication Year: 2008

Last Updated: 2016-01-19

Journal: Library of Congress

Keywords: Health Care Reform, HCR, reforming America's health care, Max Baucus, Needs assessment

Abstract:

The link between health care costs and the economy is undeniable. Reforming the health care system is essential to restoring Americas overall economy and the financial security of our working families. The case for reform is strong. The U.S. is the only developed country that does not guarantee health coverage for all its citizens, with 46 million uninsured and another 25 million underinsured. As a result, families are struggling to keep up with out-of-pocket costs for medical care. American businesses are straining to absorb rising health care costs while staying competitive at home and around the world. Despite high levels of spending on health care, research documents poor quality of care received by patients in the U.S. Studies show, for example, that adults receive recommended care for many illnesses only 55 percent of the time. Children fare even worse.

Americans are acutely aware of problems in the country's health care system, and they are ready for change. They are not alone. The nations health care stakeholders consumers, businesses, labor, providers, plans, manufacturers, and state and local governments are signaling that they are ready and willing to engage in serious and comprehensive reform of a health system in crisis. They recognize that the status quo of high costs, unacceptable numbers of the uninsured and underinsured Americans, and far less than optimal quality and value is unsustainable and intolerable. And, notably, the nations economists concur that system reform is not only necessary to rationalize our health care system, but to sustain our economy, our ability to compete internationally and, over the long haul, to deal with our long-term fiscal challenges

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Source: Link to Original Article

Source: https://www.finance.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/finalwhitepaper1.pdf