Report: U.S. healthcare costs growing faster than elsewhere

Healthcare spending is rising more quickly in the United States than in many other industrialized countries, says a new report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, further widening an already substantial gap.

U.S. healthcare spending per person increased by 60 percent between 2000 and 2008, according to the analysis of OECD data, to a record $7,538 — almost double the OECD average. Six other countries had equal or higher average annual growth rates over that period, but the U.S. is still far ahead of other countries because of its higher starting point.

The trend holds true for healthcare spending as a share of the economy. Between 1980 and 2008, U.S. healthcare spending increased from 9 percent of GDP to 16 percent. The next largest spender as a share of the economy is France, at 11.2 percent. (Wow, France spends almost 1/3 less than us.)

Experts widely agree the United States isn't getting good value for its higher spending, as it lags behind many countries on key indicators such as infant mortality and life expectancy.

"Faced with expanding public deficits, and growing health care costs, American policy makers may elect to examine the tools employed by other countries to rein in costs," the report suggests. "The growing difference between America's spending and other developed countries may encourage an examination of what people in the U.S. are getting for their healthcare dollar."

Why Conservatives Don't Like Obamacare's Medicaid Mandates

As I have discussed in other places, many states dislike Obamacare because of the increased spending it requires on states Medicaid program. Here are some concrete examples:

Florida - officials report that during the last decade, the "cost of Medicaid in Florida has grown to $21 billion from $9 billion," making up one-third "of the state budget." In an effort to cut Medicaid costs, Florida launched a pilot program five years ago, and began to transfer some patients to HMOs. Now, Florida lawmakers are "poised to scrap the traditional model in which the state pays doctors for each service they perform. Instead, almost all of Florida's Medicaid recipients would be funneled into state-authorized, for-profit HMOs or networks run by hospitals or doctors." In addition, these "networks would...manage the long-term care of the elderly, shifting them away from nursing homes and leading to an expansion of in-home care."

South Carolina -  officials report that "South Carolina's soaring Medicaid program spending is siphoning money away from other state priorities such as school buses and needs to be kept in check, Senate President Pro Tem Glenn McConnell (R) said Tuesday." His "remarks came as the Senate opened debate on a $5.8 billion spending plan that includes more than $1 billion in spending on caring for the state's elderly, disabled and poor."

Romney's New Op-Ed in NH Paper talks about the Economy

A new op-ed piece by Gov. Romney came out today in a NH paper. Romney argued that Obama hasn't done enough to control our national debt. Romney speaks about the economy with a command of the subject, and as one who truly understands it. It is a good piece, definately worth a read.

Haley Barbour Out

Haley Barbour has released a statement saying that he will not run for president next year.

Romney Shouldn't Run From Romneycare

A great blog post by a Kansas based newspaper says what I have been saying for a long time. Romney shouldn't run from Romneycare.

A Good Article in NY Times

I am not a huge Paul Krugman fan, but I really enjoyed this article. Here are some highlights:

A Medicare Advisory Board was set up in order to reduce costs and control the rate of growth in Medicare spending. Something I think both parties should be happy about. But Republicans aren't.

"The last time I looked, the Declaration of Independence didn't say we have the right to life, liberty, and the all-expense paid trip to happiness."

"Consumer-based medicine has been a bust everywhere it has been tried." The most recent example was Medicare Advantage which has been phased out due to it's rapidly rising costs. America has the most "consumer driven" healthcare market in the advanced world, yet it also has the highest costs but provides a quality of care no better than cheaper systems."

It is interesting to read the progressive talking points.

Do Polls Matter?

At this stage, no. A recent poll (forgive the irony that I am using a poll to show that polls don't matter!) showed that 53% of Americans can't even name a single GOP presidential candidate. In other words, most Americans aren't even paying attention yet. As I have said before, the only polls that matter are the polls taken about two weeks before voting.