A hybrid system of public and private markets ensures the delivery of health care to all Americans. Leadership in areas such as medical science, medical technology and pharmaceuticals exemplifies the dynamism of the American system.
America leads the world in medical science
Of the 143 Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine awarded since 1945, 87 have gone to Americans. Six of the seven women who have ever won Nobel Prizes in Physiology or Medicine did so based partially or entirely on their work in the United States.
America leads the world in medical technology
America is home to inventions ranging from the Band-Aid to the
artificial heart. The United States is also a global destination for
patients in pursuit of high-quality care. Of the health care travelers
motivated by advanced medical technology, more visit the United States
than any other country.
America leads the world in pharmaceutical development
The polio vaccine, HIV antivirals and the first statin demonstrate
America’s role as a pharmaceutical pioneer. Between 1996 and 2006,
American pharmaceutical companies developed over 160 drugs to treat
rare diseases. With twelve of the largest 20 pharmaceutical companies
based in the United States, more research and development goes on in
America than anywhere else. Despite this, pharmaceutical spending as a
percentage of overall health expenses is lower in the United States
than the OECD average.
Every American has a legal access to health care
Millions of Americans lack health insurance--most only temporarily but
some chronically. Even for the uninsured, however, a variety of laws
ensure broad levels of access to care. For example, all hospitals are
subject to a law that requires the stabilization of any patient
exhibiting emergent conditions. The two largest health entitlement
programs, Medicare and Medicaid, provide primarily for the over-65 and
lower-income populations, respectively. These federal programs are
supplemented by a variety of state health care programs.
American patients experience better outcomes
Oncology is just one area in which the United States excels, as America
consistently leads the field in the treatment of breast, prostate,
colon and rectal cancers. Non-Americans continue to travel to the
United States to seek the world-leading care at hospitals such as the
Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Johns Hopkins and the Ronald Reagan UCLA
Medical Center.
The American system balances public and private care
The World Health Organization finds that the most responsive care in
the world is delivered by the American system, 56 percent of which is
financed publicly.
Public health programs are robust and well-targeted
The United States is home to over 1,000 health clinics that are
federally funded and federally qualified. Furthermore, America is a
world leader in health education domestically and abroad.
Americans are currently debating the future of health care
Major challenges include controlling costs and eliminating coverage
gaps for the millions of Americans who lack health insurance at some
point in the year--typically because of job changes. One contributing
factor is the current patchwork health care system. Liberals promote
moving toward a single-payer, government-run system. Conservatives
propose allowing individuals to choose and control their own health
insurance from a market of competitive options and to receive the same
tax breaks currently available to employers but not individuals.
America is a leading innovator in the provision of personal choice in health care
A good example is the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program for
federal workers and retirees. It is a unique system based on consumer
choice and competition that empowers individuals to choose among
hundreds of health insurance options, offers access to virtually every
physician in the country, has nearly perfect patient satisfaction rates
and effectively controls cost. This federal program is a model for
expanding competition and choice.
Further Reading
Who Killed Health Care, Regina Herzlinger
Patient Power, by John C. Goodman and Gerald Musgrave
Health Benefits at Work: An Economic and Political Analysis of Employment-Based Health Insurance, Mark V. Pauly
