HLTH 385 Lecture 1: Lecture 1
21 May 2018
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Note: Notes are short because the syllabus was reviewed for half of the class
• There's a sense that a lot of money is wasted in the healthcare system, and there's
a way to cut back costs that won't impact human health (still providing people with
what they need)
o Example: people get services that they don't truly need
• In this class the focus will be on spending and costs
• National Health Expenditure Accounts- official account of healthcare spending in
US
o Run by Medicaid and Medicare (CSS?)
o Government surveys used to gather this information
• Healthcare expenditures have increased substantially since its first tracking and
real consistent usage in 1960
o 3.2 trillion dollars in 2015 vs 27 billion in 1960
o Healthcare spending has consistently increased greater than growth of
economy
• Most healthcare dollars go to hospitals and doctors
• Big increase in spending on drugs recently
o Costly new products
o Manufacturers have increased prices of already existing products
• The amount of money people spend on healthcare expenses out of pocket is
significantly lower than it has been in the past
o Meaning health insurers cover most of it
o In 2015 it was about 10% out of pocket
• Big healthcare insurers: Medicaid and Medicare
• Pattern shows that more money is spent in the months and years preceding a
person's death
Why is healthcare spending going up? - next class
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