Health Care Debate
Health Insurance Coverage, 2007
Total 298.2 million
Source: Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation
- Tutorial: The Process of Health ReformOverview of steps, key players, and committees involved in the legislative process required to pass health reform in Congress. Provided by the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (18:25) Date: 2009-07-16
- "Health-Care Reform," a CQ Reseacher reportAugust 28, 2009
- CQ WeeklyRecent cover story, "Medicaid: Piling Trouble on a Torn Net" (September 21, 2009). CQ Weekly covers virtually every act of Congress, including in-depth reports on issues looming on the congressional horizon, including the status of bills in play, behind-the-scenes maneuvering, committee and floor activity, debates and all roll-call votes.
Background on the Debate
by Shikha Sharma, Business, Economics, & Legal Studies Librarian at the University of Connecticut
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the United
States is projected to spend more than $2.5 trillion on health care in 2009, or
$8,160 per U.S. resident. Health spending in 2009 is projected to account for
17.6 percent of gross domestic product.*
Despite high spending, nearly
46 million Americans are still uninsured. While policy and law makers agree that
health care reform is needed, they disagree on how to contain the escalating
health care costs and offer universal coverage. Some have suggested imposing
price controls and strict budgets on health care spending, and others support
free market competition.
To understand competing proposals on management
and delivery of health care services, one needs to be familiar with factors and
policies influencing the health care systems in the United States and other
countries.
This guide highlights free Web sites with data and
information on issues relevant to the national health care debate, including
health care cost, coverage, expenditure, access, delivery, utilization,
disparities in quality, and outcomes.
Note
* Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Office
of the Actuary, 2009. “National health expenditure projections 2008-2018,
forecast summary and selected tables.” Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services Website, www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/proj2008.pdf
(accessed: June 30, 2009).
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