OECD health vs. social service expenditures. Click To Enlarge.
According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, the United States spends a greater percentage of its GDP — 16.4% — on health care than any other OECD country. What this statistic misses is the role that social spending plays in determining health. Social programs that address issues such as poverty, nutrition, substance abuse, and the environment have a dramatic effect on the need for health care spending. This slide shows that when you combine traditional health care spend with social spending, the U.S., far from being profligate, is close to the middle of the pack. Health care arguably serves as a less than efficient surrogate to make up for gaps in social services in many communities across the U.S., distorting the perception of how much this country spends on health care relative to other developed nations.
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Marje Murray
This is a very interesting slide but I would love to see the countries ranked by health outcomes and this combined spending.
April 06, 2016 at 10:44 am
Jean Barry, PhD, RN, NEA-BC
This is an outstanding piece of information in that it provides a context for our health care spending. An expanded point of view on our challenging healthcare issues is provided. Thank you so much.
Jean Barry, PdD, RN, NEA-BC
April 07, 2016 at 9:16 am
Adrienne Faerber
This is the argument that Bradley and her coauthor Lauren Taylor make in their book, "The American Healthcare Paradox" which includes an analysis of combined social + health spending and health outcomes. http://www.amazon.com/The-American-Health-Care-Paradox/dp/1610392094
April 11, 2016 at 11:09 am