|
2006 |
2008 |
| Healthy lives |
75 |
72 |
| Quality |
72 |
71 |
| Access |
67 |
58 |
| Efficiency |
52 |
53 |
| Equity |
70 |
71 |
| Overall score |
67 |
65 |
A new report grading how the American health care system delivers on a range of dimensions, from cost to quality, finds that matters are getting worse.
The verdict comes from the Commonwealth Fund, a New York City-based health care research organization. In 2006, the group reported that on a scale of zero to 100, the health system earned a 67 because of high costs, health disparities and inappropriate care. The 2008 grade dropped slightly, driven in large part by a 16% increase in the number of working-age adults who are uninsured or underinsured. Here is a breakdown of 2006 and 2008 grades in areas such as healthy lives (infant mortality, life expectancy, etc.) and equity (racial and ethnic health disparities).
Source: "Why Not the Best? Results From the National Scorecard on U.S. Health System Performance, 2008," Commonwealth Fund, July 17 (www.commonwealthfund.org/publications)
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