Causes.

Causes behind problems with the US Healthcare System

Causes

After identifying the major symptoms of issues with the health care system, the next step is to consider causes.

Interrelationships exist, for example between lack of universal coverage and equity, so addressing a major cause can alleviate multiple symptoms. And some symptoms are also a cause, such as high costs and inequity.

And there are some causes that are societal and not related directly to the healthcare system but have an effect on the health care provision. For example, the issue of increasing poverty rates, which have an impact on access, equity and outcomes.

This is the top level for causes, which will be examined more closely in additional pages and posts. And if you would like to add information to the discussion, click here. 

After the main causes have been identified and defined, the next step will be to list options for actions that will mitigate or completely resolve them. I will establish active links to further information as it is made available.

Some causes of main issues with the US healthcare system, listed under main symptoms:

Lack of universal coverage

Politics

Parochialism

Patchwork insurance

Cost

System structure (or lack of structure)

High costs

High costs of medical care

Limited supply of medical professionals

High insurance costs

High prices of medical devices

Prices for pharmaceuticals

Poor administrative efficiency

Insurance requirements and structure

Poorly designed computer systems

General administrative inefficiency

Issues with equity

High costs

Lack of insurance

Poverty

Differences in treatment provision based on race and gender

Lagging health care outcomes

Medical mistakes

Lack of access

Inequity

System structure based on treatment and not prevention

Individual behaviors

Environmental factors