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Why is health care pricey?

Sat., Nov. 12, 2016

Since it appears we will get an opportunity following the election to revisit and perhaps revise our national health care policy, we should pause to consider whether we are debating the right question. Thus far, most, if not all, of the dialogue has been about “Who pays?” But little has been done to examine “Why does it cost so much?” If, in fact, we spend a higher percentage of GDP on health care than the rest of the developed world, then why does our life expectancy rank 20th?

Will Rogers once offered that it’s a good thing we don’t get all the government we pay for. Sadly, we seem to get the same bargain in health care.

Wade Griffith

Spokane

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