Segment 9 – The Big Fix for U.S. Healthcare

This segment reviews the “Big Fix,” based on the idea of setting limits fairly. It describes the success of the Oregon Health Plan of 1994. In the first 8 Episodes, we have reviewed the evolution of the US healthcare delivery system and insurance system. We have identified the relentless growth of healthcare spending as the … Continue reading Segment 9 – The Big Fix for U.S. Healthcare →

Segment 5 – Why Is U.S. Healthcare So Expensive?

This segment reviews the “Perfect Storm” of reasons for unrestrained increase of healthcare spending in the U.S. In Episode 4, we zeroed in on what I call the Real Problem with healthcare -- relentlessly rising costs. In this Episode, we will look at why the US spends so much on healthcare. As you can imagine, … Continue reading Segment 5 – Why Is U.S. Healthcare So Expensive? →

Segment 3 – Healthcare Reform Successes & Failures

In Segment 2, we looked at the history of medical care in the U.S. until 1965, the year Congress enacted Medicare and Medicaid. In Segment 3 we will look at reform movements, starting with Medicare and Medicaid. We will look at why later reforms failed and where that leaves us now. By the early 1960s, … Continue reading Segment 3 – Healthcare Reform Successes & Failures →

Segment 2 – Brief History of U.S. Healthcare

In Segment 2, I will answer the question, How Did We Get Here? I’ll give a whirlwind tour of the history of medical care in the U.S., and I’ll also look at the birth of health insurance. Let’s start with looking at healthcare in the Colonial period. The most famous doctor at the time was … Continue reading Segment 2 – Brief History of U.S. Healthcare →

Segment 1 – Welcome to Explaining U.S. Healthcare

This is the first of a 10-part series in which Duncan MacLean MD explains the U.S. healthcare problem and how to fix it. Dr. MacLean has 40 years experience with medical practice and healthcare policy. You know, almost every day my patients have been asking me, What is the problem with U.S. healthcare? Of course, … Continue reading Segment 1 – Welcome to Explaining U.S. Healthcare →