My latest post on the economics of meats and sweets included the following statement: "it is no wonder our health care system is in crisis mode--it's swelling with an unsustainable amount of demand, which results in price inflation and a perception of declining quality (which may very well be true)".
However, it seems the perceptions of declining health care quality have been misconstrued by a faulty, or seemingly disingenuous, analysis of health care data by the World Health Organization (or WHO). I recently listened to an EconTalk podcast featuring Scott Atlas (link here) in which Atlas presents compelling arguments that the quality of U.S. health care is actually top notch, and far better for patients of all income classes than what the media pundits, politicians and WHO claim.
Atlas focuses his arguments on WHO's famous, or infamous, World Health Report 2000 which ranked the United States "a disastrous 37th out of the world’s 191 nations in 'overall performance'" . This report is frequently cited by people in high places, particularly those who advocate for an expansion of government involvement in heath care. However, the report and its underlying analysis is deeply flawed as Atlas argues in the podcast (and if you don't want to invest an hour in your own enlightenment, at least read Atlas' article titled The Worst Study Ever?).
Another interesting argument from the podcast is that the uninsured receive better health care than those enrolled in Medicaid. This is because Medicaid limits the treatment options available to health care providers, whereas a provider of care to an uninsured patient doesn't have any limitations on what treatments they can employ. I haven't looked too much into this argument, but it did pique my curiosity.
To sum it up: I can safely say America does not have a health care quality issue, nor a health care equality issue...the U.S. has a health care cost issue solely because America is addicted to the Western pattern diet.
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