New England Journal of Medicine · 2009 · 98 citations · 2 references
Public AffairsHealth PolicyPublic FinanceHealth Care FinancingHealth EconomicsHealth InsuranceFinancial ProtectionHealth Insurance EconomicsHealth Insurance FinancingHealth Insurance RegulationHealthcare BudgetingInsurance CoverageGovernment Health SpendingHealth Care Cost SavingsHealth Expenditure PolicyHealthcare Cost Containment PolicyHealthcare Savings StrategyPrivate Sector ProvisionPublic Funding Of HealthcarePublic Health Spending
High U.S. health care spending has been characterized not only as a barrier to affordable insurance but also as the preeminent long-term threat to the economy and the competitiveness of American business. The current policy discussion in Congress does not address this problem. The search for government savings with which to fund coverage expansions makes public programs the main targets for spending reductions; opportunities for private-sector savings are left out of the equation. We think it is useful to consider the cost-control options available to both the public and the private sectors.Although there is no consensus on what should . . .
2