3 ms·

Lifespan Deaths due to preventable causes On both of these the US is somewhere in the 30s in terms of rank among countries. But we are #1 in terms of cost per

Lifespan Deaths due to preventable causes On both of these the US is somewhere in the 30s in terms of rank among countries. But we are #1 in terms of cost per capita :) 5 year cancer is too low level in my opinion to give an overall picture

5trokerac3 8y ago
And how much of that is due to the obesity epidemic in the US and has nothing to do with the healthcare system?
- dontreact 8y ago
  I don’t know for sure what the breakdown is. Right now our overall system does little to discourage the obesity epidemic, but in a universal coverage system there would be massive financial incentive to fight it (either the government or insurance companies being forced to provide coverage for all)
  - 5trokerac3 8y ago
    Is there perhaps a better way to use resources to fight the obesity epidemic, and massively impact "health outcomes", than a ~$40 trillion complete overhaul of the medical system and hoping that the epidemic is solved by proxy?
    - dontreact 8y ago
      I don't know where you get 40 trillion from. As I mentioned, our costs are significantly higher and our outcomes are worse than 30 other countries who have universal coverage. We should be learning something from the systems in place in other countries. I think you are focusing too narrowly on obesity in particular, when there are many reasons why this is happening. I would suggest reading this book: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Health-Reform-Right-Performance/dp/019537150X https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Health-Reform-Right-Performan... It was written by William Hsiao, who was hired by the Taiwanese government to advise them on modernizing/reforming their health care system. It does a lot to compare health systems in various countries. I think one underlying thread is how much health systems improve once there is a commitment to universal coverage. I work in this space and am trying to see what can be done about changing behaviors to make people healthier but it is incredibly difficult, especially when there is so much financial incentive in getting people to behave in unhealthy ways.

5trokerac3 8y ago

And how much of that is due to the obesity epidemic in the US and has nothing to do with the healthcare system?

dontreact 8y ago
I don’t know for sure what the breakdown is. Right now our overall system does little to discourage the obesity epidemic, but in a universal coverage system there would be massive financial incentive to fight it (either the government or insurance companies being forced to provide coverage for all)
- 5trokerac3 8y ago
  Is there perhaps a better way to use resources to fight the obesity epidemic, and massively impact "health outcomes", than a ~$40 trillion complete overhaul of the medical system and hoping that the epidemic is solved by proxy?
  - dontreact 8y ago
    I don't know where you get 40 trillion from. As I mentioned, our costs are significantly higher and our outcomes are worse than 30 other countries who have universal coverage. We should be learning something from the systems in place in other countries. I think you are focusing too narrowly on obesity in particular, when there are many reasons why this is happening. I would suggest reading this book: https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Health-Reform-Right-Performance/dp/019537150X https://www.amazon.com/Getting-Health-Reform-Right-Performan... It was written by William Hsiao, who was hired by the Taiwanese government to advise them on modernizing/reforming their health care system. It does a lot to compare health systems in various countries. I think one underlying thread is how much health systems improve once there is a commitment to universal coverage. I work in this space and am trying to see what can be done about changing behaviors to make people healthier but it is incredibly difficult, especially when there is so much financial incentive in getting people to behave in unhealthy ways.