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August 25, 2005
Key questions on American health care
Malcolm Gladwell's recent New Yorker polemic regarding the state of American health care prompts Marginal Revolution's Tyler Cowen to post this handy list of observations on the key issues facing the American health care system. One point that Tyler makes is particularly important:
The U.S. health care system probably is the world's best for some class of people, namely the well-off and I don't mean just the super-rich. Trying to extend those benefits -- however this might be accomplished -- is a better approach than nationalizing the sector.
Mr. Gladwell's piece falls into the common trap of blurring the issues relating to the quality of American health care -- which is quite good -- with the issues pertaining to the way in which America finances health care, which is not so good. Tyler's post does a much better job of delineating that key distinction.
Posted by Tom at August 25, 2005 06:01 AM
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Comments
Methinks you may find the new Michael Porter book, "Redefining Health Care," a good fit for describing a fix along these lines. Still have to pick up a copy myself. Review forthcoming when that happens (over/under: a week).
Posted by: Greg Wythe at August 25, 2005 06:44 AM
Greg, thanks for noting Mr. Porter's work, which I have also previously noted on a couple of occasions on this blog. Reform of health care finance in this country certainly is an area in which fresh ideas should be welcomed.
Posted by: Tom K at August 25, 2005 07:20 AM
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