A recent study by the Commonwealth Fund reveals that the American healthcare system is failing in its primary objective of providing quality healthcare.
Among the 10 nations evaluated, the U.S. ranks at the bottom in crucial areas such as health equity, care accessibility, and patient outcomes.
Despite spending the most compared to other countries in the study, the United States healthcare system demonstrates the poorest overall performance. In contrast, Australia, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom emerged as the top-performing nations in this assessment.
The study “Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System” indicates that lower-income people in America face significantly greater challenges in obtaining high-quality healthcare.
Furthermore, the United States ranks second highest in terms of doctors reporting unfair treatment within the healthcare system and patients experiencing discrimination or having their health concerns dismissed due to their racial or ethnic background.
Among the countries surveyed, only New Zealand fared worse in these aspects. The U.S. also ranks at the bottom when it comes to average lifespan and preventable deaths.
“The U.S. is failing one of its principal obligations as a nation: to protect the health and welfare of its people. The status quo—continually spending the most and getting the least for our health care dollars—is not sustainable.
It isn’t about lack of resources—it’s clearly about how they are being spent. Too many Americans are living shorter, sicker lives because of this failure.
We need to build a health system that is affordable and that works for everyone. It’s past time that we step up to this challenge,” said Joseph R. Betancourt, M.D., Commonwealth Fund president in a news release.
The Commonwealth Fund according to their website is a private, nonprofit foundation supporting independent research on health policy reform and a high-performance health system.
The United States not only ranked at the bottom overall but also scored the lowest in specific health indicators, including healthcare accessibility and patient outcomes.
Conversely, Australia and the Netherlands, which topped the overall rankings, demonstrated the lowest healthcare expenditure among the countries evaluated. Meanwhile, the U.S. allocated the highest amount of funds towards healthcare within the group.
“Differences in overall performance between most countries are relatively small, but the only clear outlier is the U.S., where health system performance is dramatically lower,” the report explains.
Sheila El Amin has worked in health care in London where she was a midwife and in the U.S. where she was a nurse anesthetist. She told The Final Call, “It’s all about money in the United States.
My family that is still in the UK doesn’t have to come out of pocket for medication like we do here. Some may have to wait longer for care in London, but the bottom line is, here, it’s all about money. Pharmaceutical companies charge so much, then the insurance companies get involved and they add their prices. It’s crooked and the people suffer.”
“Remember the case of the EpiPen that people often use in emergencies for allergic reactions? The price went from $100 in 2009 to over $600 in 2016. That’s price gouging. The head of the company was called before Congress to explain. That’s a classic example of the American healthcare system. Price and profit are more important than people.”
While the U.S. analysis was mostly bleak, the report did reveal a positive aspect for the healthcare big spender. The United States holds the second position in the “care process,” encompassing areas such as prevention, safety, coordination, and patient involvement.
This favorable ranking may be attributed to shifts in how Medicare and other insurance providers reimburse healthcare services, coupled with an enhanced emphasis on patient safety measures and preventive care offerings.
Key findings from the report include:
- Health Outcomes: Among developed nations, the United States has the lowest life expectancy and the highest rate of preventable deaths. In five out of six health outcome metrics, the U.S. ranks at the bottom. Conversely, the top performers in this area are Australia, Switzerland, and New Zealand.
- Access to Care: In the United States, individuals encounter the greatest challenges in accessing and paying for healthcare. Among high-income nations studied, the U.S. stands alone in its lack of universal health coverage. Despite significant improvements brought about by the Affordable Care Act, 25 million U.S. residents remain without insurance, and approximately one-fourth of the population struggles to afford necessary medical care.
Americans are more likely than residents of other countries to report not having a regular doctor or healthcare provider. The Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Germany generally lead in terms of healthcare accessibility. However, the UK’s healthcare system struggles with long wait times and limited resources, primarily due to staff shortages and budget cuts.
• Equity: In terms of health equity, the United States and New Zealand perform poorly, with a significant number of individuals from lower-income brackets reporting inability to access necessary medical care compared to their wealthier counterparts. Additionally, more people in these countries report experiencing unfair treatment and discrimination when seeking healthcare services.
• Administrative Efficiency: In the United States, healthcare providers and patients face some of the most significant challenges related to payment and billing processes. The intricate nature of the American healthcare system, which combines both public and private insurance options and encompasses numerous health plans, requires doctors and patients to maneuver through a complex maze of cost-sharing obligations, administrative paperwork, and disputes with insurance companies. This level of intricacy results in the U.S. being ranked next to last in this area, marginally surpassing Switzerland.
“Mirror, Mirror underscores the importance of international comparisons, offering evidence and inspiration to improve America’s health system.
While other nations have successfully met their populations’ health needs, the U.S. health system continues to lag significantly,” explained Reginald D. Williams II, Common Wealth Fund Vice President, International Health Policy and Practice Innovations, in a news release.
“This report shows that by adopting proved strategies and making smart investments, America can enhance its health system to better meet the needs of its people. There’s no reason we can’t elevate our standing if we choose to do so.”
