Higher Health Care Spending in U.S. Doesn't Translate into Superior Overall Care
<p>By now, it's common knowledge that the United States spends more on health care than other industrialized countries—often much more. But what are we getting in return for all this spending? According to a <a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2012/may/explaining-high-health-care-spending-united-states-international">new study</a> from The Commonwealth Fund, patients in the U.S. do not receive "notably superior" care compared with our peers internationally, despite health expenditures totaling nearly $8,000 per person in 2009—one-third to two-thirds more than in 12 other advanced nations.</p><p>While the U.S. performs well on breast and colorectal cancer survival, it has among the highest rates of potentially preventable asthma deaths and diabetes-related amputations, and rates that are no better than average for in-hospital heart attack and stroke deaths (see our infographic). Higher prices and greater use of technology appear to be the main factors driving high U.S. spending, rather than greater use of physician and hospital services. </p>
<p>To learn more, read <a href="/publications/issue-briefs/2012/may/explaining-high-health-care-spending-united-states-international">Explaining High Health Care Spending in the United States: An International Comparison of Supply, Utilization, Prices, and Quality</a>.</p>
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