In the past 20 years, each additional dollar spent on health care services has produced health gains valued at $2.40 to $3.00. Though annual age-adjusted per-person health care costs between 1980-2000 increased by $2,254 (102 percent), this was accompanied by significant health gains. For example, annual death and disability rates declined, and a key measure of population health, the number of days in the hospital, fell from 129.7 to 56.6 per 100 persons.
Simply put, without the investment in health care the U.S. would have experienced 470,000 more deaths, 2.3 million more people with disabilities, and 206 million more days spent in the hospital.
Health care gains must be an integral part of the dialogue on rising health costs. Key measures such as life and death expectancy, disability rates, and number of days in the hospital must be considered in order to correctly analyze the impact of increased health care spending.
Today’s patients who suffer a heart attack are far less likely to die; death rates have declined from 345 to 186 deaths per 100,000 persons. Stroke and breast cancer outcomes have seen similar declines.
Major financial investments have gone toward preventing and treating common diseases – effective health care management practices and technological and drug innovations have significantly improved outcomes. These advances are composed of many innovations including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, surgical and diagnostic technologies, and chronic disease management.
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 increasing costs.
In evaluating legislation, Congress must remember the physician's edict, "First do no harm." When considering legislative proposals, it must first reject any that would result in increasing the health care cost burden. Mandates on employers and health plans must be rejected. In addition, Congress must do what it can to decrease costs. Reforms to address the crisis in medical liability costs must be a priority, and Congress must continue to support programs to establish disease management.
