HEALTH CARE COSTS AND VALUE

The American health care system is the home of the most advanced medical innovation in the world. The U.S. is the epicenter of health care research and development – making possible unparalleled improvements in the field. Over the past few decades, these significant advances in the U.S. health care system have helped people live longer and better lives. This period has also, not coincidentally, seen substantial increases in health care spending.  Health care discussions in Congress and elsewhere seem to center on the substantial increase in per-person spending on health care during this period, with little attention given to the commensurate gains in health and longevity due to the investment in health care.  These conversations miss the point -- health care gains must be an integral aspect of the dialogue on rising health expenditures.  As Congress debates the increasing cost of health care, along with cost containment strategies, it must not forget the positive return that our nation’s investment in health care has yielded. Continued medical advancement must be a part of any solution to rising costs.