Poor Health Care Outcomes
The US has fallen far behind other OECD countries in terms of health indicators and outcomes. According to the Commonwealth Fund, the United States' Health Care System Performance dropped approximately 2% from 2006 (67%) to 2008 (65%), which can been seen in the graphic below.
Although the United States spends the highest percentage of GDP on healthcare per year, our mortality amenable to healthcare - that is, the deaths before age 75 that are potentially preventable with timely and appropriate medical care - is high compared to other OECD countries8 (see graphic below). To make matters worse, we have had the lowest decrease in mortality amenable to health care between 1997/98 to 2002/03.
8 Schoen, C et al. Toward HigherPerformace Heath Systems: Adults' Healthcare Experiences in Seven Countries, 2007. Health Affairs. 26, no . 6 (2007)