Why Are Health Care Costs So High?

In a recent HuffPo blog, Richard Kirsch argued that consumers weren't to blame for high health care costs, but that it was the prices we pay. Yes, health care in this country is heavily regulated, is paid for many in large part by Federal and state governments and is rife with inefficiencies. But we can't overlook that as a population, Americans are living less healthy. Kirsch does makes some very good points in the comparison between the systems in the US, Canada and Germany, although Canada is a single payer system, unlike the US and Germany. Fundamentally, what US health reform doesn't do is address prices like other, more successful health care systems. A properly rewarded health care professional will endeavor to improve the health of their patients. But then there's the consumer.

Consumers have a great deal of responsibility for the high cost of health care, but not necessarily on a micro level. If just 15 percent of our population accounts for over 70 percent of our health care spend, then we have a lot to talk about with this small group of health care frequent imbibers. That said, since we have a history of treating instead of caring for consumers, we've abandoned the upside of helping people adopt healthy, sustainable habits to ensure that they enjoy a high quality of life. Will price control help bend that health care cost curve? Absolutely. But that bend will only be temporary relief unless we can get all stakeholders to focus on care instead of treatment. And this means not just at the clinical setting, but a review of our public institutions such as schools to ensure that government dollars aren't robbing Peter - e.g., in the form of unhealthy school lunches - to pay Paul - e.g., escalating MediCare/MedicAid costs. 'Not sure if that old saying worked, but you get my point.

Kirsch's blog here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/richard-kirsch/health-care-costs-_b_860601.html