ABSTRACT
The level of chronic disease was off the charts, particularly as we looked at the prevalence of heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and depression. Chronic diseases consume most of our health care resources. The higher spending is not so much due to the greater use of health resources. The higher spending level is more a function of two other factors: a much greater use of cost-intensive technologies, and higher pricing. The less-than-stellar outcome measures of health care in the US are not due so much to poor health care as they are due to poor health. Obamacare supporters have pointed to the overall moderation in the rate of health care spending increases that has prevailed in recent years as proof that the plan did in fact reduce costs as intended. Pending efforts to repeal or substantially modify Obamacare may end the likes of Independent Payment Advisory Board.
