“The acceleration in health care spending growth (from 4.6 percent in 2022 to 7.5 percent in 2023) reflected growth in nonprice factors such as the use and intensity of services.1 When adjusted for health care price inflation (as measured by the National Health Expenditure deflator), real health care spending increased 4.4 percent in 2023—a higher rate than the increase of 1.4 percent for such spending in 2022 and higher than the growth rate of real GDP, which was 2.9 percent in 2023 (exhibit 1).2“
International Comparison of Health Systems – KFF
“Despite spending far more money than any peer nation, Americans live shorter lives and often face more barriers to care. Some of this disparity can be attributed to aspects of the U.S. health system, but socioeconomic and other factors also play a role.”
In short, compared with other well-off countries, the US health care ‘system’ features: 1) gargantuan costs — up to double the cost, 2) limited access, especially for working class and poor people — 8% uninsured v. universal coverage, and 3) debatable quality of care.
“In the two decades since the creation of Medicare Part D, the concept of a ‘drug used for weight loss’ has been dramatically transformed…(T)he continued approval of new indications for GLP-1s suggests that coverage of these products under Medicare and Medicaid will only continue to grow, even if the Biden Administration’s proposed coverage expansion is not finalized.”
Related article:
“As American taxpayers continue underwriting research pushing miracle cures through the technology pipeline, will the cost pressures they bring lead to a more inclusive health care financing system — more like those in Europe and Canada? Or will cost pressure and political decisions make the system less equitable?”