Health Care

In Brief

The United States spends twice per capita what other major industrialized countries spend on health care, with $1 of every $5 of national income going toward health care and spending expected to reach $4.2 trillion in 2016, or 20 percent of the GDP. At the same time, the United States was ranked last in preventable mortality among developed nations, just below Ireland and Portugal, with 47 million Americans lacking health insurance, according to the Commonwealth Fund's analysis of World Health Organization data.

While many states are endeavoring to reform health care for their citizens with independent legislation and funds, others have proposed overhauling the system at the national level, suggesting universal health coverage. Government spending accounts for a growing portion of the medical economy, reaching 46 percent in 2006 as Medicare Part D's coverage of prescription drugs took effect. Some contend that managed care helps control costs, but many patients and doctors say it has hurt quality of care.

The Obama administration has made reforming health care reform one of its top priorities. "Fixing what's wrong with our health care system is no longer just a moral imperative, but a fiscal imperative," President Barack Obama said at a White House summit about health care overhaul, emphasizing that reform is expected to help bolster the economy. He has asked Congress to earmark $634 billion from the federal budget to fund health care reform over the next 10 years. To learn more, or offer your input, visit the official health care reform Web site, HealthReform.gov, maintained by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.

The following resources provide information on the challenges of health care reform:

General Health Care Resources

• Public Agenda: Health Care
  This nonpartisan, nonprofit public opinion research and citizen education organization provides an overview of the issues, recent articles, resources and public opinion data.
  
  Government Health Care Resources
  
  
• Medicaid
  Official Web site detailing the government's Medicaid program, which helps provide health care to certain low-income individuals and families.
  
  
• Medicare
  Official Web site detailing the government's Medicare program, which helps provide health care to people age 65 or older, in addition to some disabled and sick people under age 65.
  
  
• The White House on health care
  Read about the Obama administration's health care agenda.
  
  
  
  
  

• Alliance for Health Reform
  This non-partisan, non-profit group strives to provide objective information on the issue.
  
  
• America's Health Insurance Plans
  Trade group represents HMOs.
  
  
• American Medical Association
  Promotes the science of medicine and the betterment of public health.
  
  
• Council for Affordable Health Insurance
  Research and advocacy organization represents more than 40 insurance companies, small businesses, physicians, actuaries and insurance brokers.
  
  
• Employee Benefit Research Institute
  Nonprofit group conducts research on employee benefits.
  
  
• Families USA
  Advocates affordable, high-quality health care.
  
  
• Health Care Financing Administration
  Federal agency that administers Medicare, Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
  
  
• National Association of Health Data Organizations
  Collects, analyzes and disseminates health care data.
  
  
• National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems
  Represents the nation's urban public hospitals, health systems and patients.
  
  
• National Coalition on Health Care
  Alliance of businesses, consumers groups, labor unions, religious groups and primary care providers.
  
  
• National Institute for Health Care Management
  Dedicated to studying managed care and related issues.
  
  
• Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  Philanthropic organization that is devoted exclusively to health care issues.
  
  
• U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
  The United States government's principal agency designed to protect the health of Americans and provide essential human services.
  
  
• Urban Institute's Health Policy Center
  Nonpartisan, independent research organization that analyzes trends and underlying causes of changes in health insurance coverage, access to care and use of health care services by the entire U.S. population.
  
  

• Visit voting records resources.

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