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PROFESSION

Uninsured problem lowers U.S. health system's performance score

Quick View. Aug. 18, 2008.



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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