information for practice

With the 2008 presidential election in full swing,health care reform has jumped to the top of the nation's domestic policy priorities—and with good reason. Growing evidence indicates that the U.S. system falls short in critical areas. The number of Americans without health insurance is climbing steadily: 47 million people were uninsured in 2006,an increase of 8.6 million—more than 18% —since 2000. In addition, an estimated 16 million Americans are underinsured and paying high out-of-pocket costs for their care. Even people with good insurance coverage are feeling the effects of higher out-of-pocket health care costs, which are causing them to cut back on their retirement saving contributions. Meanwhile, the quality of care is highly variable and delivery of care is often poorly coordinated, driving up costs and putting patients at risk. In short, our health system is failing to perform as it should. With rising costs straining family, business, and public budgets, access deteriorating, and quality variable, improving health care performance is a matter of national urgency.