Jul

23

CMW News: U.S. leads world in healthcare spending

By Case Management Weekly

A report slated for release on Thursday claims the U.S. has the most expensive healthcare system in the world, according to The New York Times. The report also notes that the U.S. spends twice as much per person on healthcare, compared to other industrialized nations. The report is the second of its kind done by the Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit research organization in New York City.

The report emphasizes the inefficiencies of the American system. For example, in the U.S., about 7.5% of healthcare payments go to administrative fees. If the U.S. could get that down to the 5% it is in other industrialized countries, it could save about $50 billion a year, say the authors of the report.

The findings are expected to inspire political candidates to make more healthcare reform promises during their campaigns, according to The New York Times.

Sources: The New York Times, The Commonwealth Fund