Do you know why America needs healthcare for all? Think inequity of care, among others.
Hi, I'm James Lenhart family doctor, author and publisher of Conversations for Paco: Why America Needs Health Care for All.
Today's conversation leverages the research of the Commonwealth Fund to identify the tension between inequity in care and access to care in the United States. Since 1918 the Commonwealth Fund has promoted improved quality of healthcare by supporting independent research on health care issues to improve healthcare practice and policy. Here's what the Commonwealth Fund concludes when it comes to inequity of care in the United States.
“The US ranks a clear last on measures of equity compared toother developed nations. Americans with below average incomes are much more likely than their counterparts in other countries to report not visiting a physician when sick; not getting a recommended test, treatment, or follow-up care; or not filling a prescription or skipping doses when needed because of costs. On each of these indicators, one third or more lower income adults in the U.S. said they went without needed care because of costs in the past year.”
Is it any wonder when it comes to healthy lives, citizens in the United States fare poorly and health outcomes in many important measures rank last compared to other developed nations.
Healthcare is once again a political hot potato in the United States and I urge you to call, write or email your congressional representatives to promote health care for all in the United States – because health is a human necessity, and healthcare is a human right.
Conversations for Paco: Why America Needs Health Care for All.
is available from Amazon in electronic, paperback and hardbound formats. Go to: https://www.amazon.com/Conversations-Paco-America-Needs-Healthcare/dp/0615471099/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1490564760&sr=8-1&keywords=conversations+for+Paco
References:
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, 2014 Update: How the U.S. Health Care System Compares Internationally. Online [Available at:] http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/fund-reports/2014/jun/mirror-mirror Accessed: May 7, 2017.
