The U.S. Health Care Spending: Comparison With Other Oecd Countries

by Peterson, Chris L.; Burton, Rachel

• ISBN13: 9781604563290
• ISBN10: 160456329X
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-07-30
• Publisher: Nova Science Pub Inc

Summary

The United States spends more money on health care than any other country in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The OECD consists of 30 democracies, most of which are considered the most economically advanced countries in the world. The OECD data and other research provide some insight as to why health care spending is higher in the United States than in other countries, although many difficult research issues remain. This book presents some of the available data and research and concludes with a summary of study findings.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. ix
How Much Does the United States Spend on Health Care?	p. 1
Why Does the United States Spend so Much on Health Care?	p. 7
Volume: Do Americans Use Health Care More Often?	p. 9
Intensity: When Americans Receive Care, Is It More Involved?	p. 13
Intensity of Hospitalizations	p. 15
Intensity of Doctor Visits	p. 21
Intra-National Variation in Intensity	p. 29
Price: Do Americans Pay More for Health Care Services?	p. 31
Salaries of Health Professionals	p. 33
Price of Medical Equipment	p. 39
Price of Medical Procedures	p. 41
Price of Pharmaceuticals	p. 43
Health Care Spending by Type of Service	p. 49
What Spurs Health Care Prices and Utilization?	p. 53
Factors that Affect Demand	p. 55
Age Structure of the Population	p. 57
Income	p. 59
Insurance	p. 61
Tax Treatment	p. 65
Tastes	p. 67
Weak Bargaining Power	p. 69
Factors that Affect Supply	p. 71
Supplier-Induced Demand	p. 73
Specialist Care Emphasis	p. 75
Defensive Medicine	p. 77
Structure of Health System	p. 79
What Does the United States Get for Its Health Care Spending?	p. 81
Wait Times	p. 85
Self-Reported Health Status	p. 87
Life Expectancy	p. 89
Mortality Rates	p. 91
Medical Errors	p. 97
Infant Mortality Rates	p. 99
Does the United States Spend "Too Much" on Health Care?	p. 103
Conclusion	p. 107
Health Care Resources	p. 109
Pharmaceuticals	p. 111
Health Administration and Insurance	p. 113
Prices	p. 115
Population Risk Factors	p. 117
Quality	p. 119
Wait Times	p. 121
Health Outcomes	p. 123
References	p. 125
Index	p. 137
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