Symptoms.

Major Problems with the US Healthcare System

Like healthcare providers, I am taking a symptomatic approach to defining major problems with the provision and outcomes of healthcare.

Symptoms lead to a root cause, which then has potential recommendations to mitigate or resolve the issue. And cure the system.

There are many symptoms to the root causes of issues with health care in the United States, and they can be rolled up into larger themes. And there are interrelationships between the themes.

So, to start, here are some major problem areas where the country lags other industrialized nations.

Lack of universal coverage

The United States is the only industrialized country that does not have universal health care. This increases costs, negatively affects outcomes and creates inequity.

High costs for patients

American healthcare recipients pay more in deductibles and other out-of-pocket costs than do those in other countries.

Poor administrative efficiency

This includes an inordinate amount of time spent by providers and patients on insurance claims and billing, inadequate computerized systems and general inefficiency.

Issues with equity

The playing field is not level for Americans seeking access to health care. This is largely due to costs and other barriers to care for the poor, and the lack of insurance coverage.

Lagging health care outcomes

Mainly resulting from the other symptoms, the U.S. has outcomes that lag other countries.

It has higher rates of infant mortality than other nations.

After decades of increasing longevity, in recent years life expectancy has decreased. Especially among middle-age poor Americans.  

The country also has unacceptably high rates of “amenable mortality,” deaths from diseases like diabetes that are preventable with timely medical care.

The causes for amenable mortality rates and declining life expectancy tie in directly with the lack of universal coverage and equity.

Conclusion

Now, it is time to connect the dots – symptoms to root causes.

Much of the information regarding healthcare issues comes from 2017 international health care rankings performed by the Commonwealth Fund.