July 16, 2024 USA Healthcare System

USA healthcare expenses as a percentage of GDP are twice that of most developed countries, yet outcomes fall far short of these countries.  Life expectancy has fallen, for most adults healthcare is neither affordable nor accessible, and more than 20 million people owe nearly $200 billion in medical debt.   The system is a patchwork of government and private programs, each with its eligibility, certification and recertification requirements that are difficult to navigate.  While COVID exacerbated so many of the problems with USA healthcare, it was not the cause.  

The Medicare program was welcomed when enacted in 1965 and expanded and modified in 1972 and 2003, to assure that seniors and those with disabilities had access to healthcare after retirement.  However, privatization via Medicare Advantage Plans create gatekeepers to care for many.  The 2010 Affodable Care Act was neither affordable nor a guarantee of care for millions forced into high deductible plans with copays and other restrictions.   

Corporatization of the healthcare system has resulted in the closure of many regional hospitals and reductions of their services, particularly high-cost centers such as OB/GYN, leaving many people in rural areas without access to healthcare.

The Mayo Clinic, with its humble beginnings in Rochester, Minnesota, and now with two additional locations in Jacksonville and Phoenix, stands in stark contrast to the USA healthcare system most of us encounter.  This not-for-profit institution, where all medical personal are employees of the clinic, practices patient-oriented care with a focus on research and innovation.  Once you have experienced the Mayo, re-entry into the USA healthcare system is painful.   In the words of founder, Dr.. WW Mayo:  "The needs of the patient come first.  Within its walls, all classes of people, the poor  as well as the rich, without regard to color or creed, shall be cared for without discrimination."