America Is Not Getting Good Value for Its Health Dollar

The United States spends more money per person on health than any other country, but our lives are shorter—by nearly four years—than expected based on health expenditures.

$690

billion are wasted in US health care each year via @theIOM

Recent Reports

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Essential Health Benefits

May 2, 2013 | Issue Brief

States welcome the opportunity to customize their own set of health insurance plans that will offer 10 categories called 'essential health benefits,' but health care providers, consumer groups and patient advocates would prefer a national standard.

Understanding the Economic Costs of Obesity

May 2, 2013 | Story

Health economist John Cawley, PhD, examines obesity from all angles: costs, consequences, and cures.

See all reports on Cost & Value

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How Americans View Health Care Costs

Americans Say Cost of Care is a Serious Problem

A majority of the general public (87%) thinks the cost of care is a serious problem for the U.S., according to a poll by RWJF, NPR, and the Harvard School of Public Health.

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Quick Facts about Americans' Views on Cost

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  • About 65 percent of the general public believes the cost of care has gotten worse over the last five years.
  • More than 40 percent of sick Americans say that the cost of their medical care over the last 12 months has caused a “very serious” (20%) or “somewhat serious” (23%) problem for their or their family’s finances.

Comparing Health Care Quality & Cost

In Your Neighborhood

This interactive repository features public reports that measure the quality and cost of care physicians and hospitals provide in communities across the country.

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This Costs How Much?

This video from RWJF's Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) program provides three perspectives on the need for cost data, including what's at stake for patients, providers, and employers; and how to nurture a cost-transparent system that empowers all players to make better decisions.

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