Sources of exponential growth of medical costs

Sources of exponential growth of medical costs

The following are ideas without analysis. I plan to do an analysis in the future

Efficiency

Over-regulation (laws pertaining to licensing, licensing)

Non-focal approach; focus on peripheral factors

Over focus on confidentiality (which in the long run is counterproductive regarding societal attitudes)

Elimination of cheaper sources of care that results in no care, unaffordable care, burdening of emergency rooms, long trips from rural areas to urban treatment centers

Over-administration

Proliferation of players other than care providers

Over-professionalization and over-payment—compared to other fields

Elimination versus enhancement of family and social networks

Redundancy—e.g. time spent on documentation far exceeds what is needed for cohesion and continuity of caring

Insurance

… And changing—and changed—attitudes of large corporations from function to profit

Consolidation of hospital and other sources of care which eliminates competition

Increasing number of uninsured which causes providers to over-charge employer based plans

Investment

…of other contractors and providers

Technology including pharmaceuticals

Increased use of new technology and drugs

Societal attitudes to health, illness and death… expenditure on marginal benefits

Economics of large institutions—marginal costs

(Mention of marginal analysis does not imply that the result of such analysis is ethical even if it is efficient)

Supply and demand of skills (doctors, nurses, various therapists and technicians)

Attitudes toward government and services

Demographics

Aging population

Increasing incidence of costly chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and heart disease

Another meaning of ‘cost’

The cost to society and individuals associated with the practice of medicine (the nature of the practice, errors, and ethical concerns) and attitudes toward it