01 Aug The Prognosis for National Health Insurance
Articles / / August 1, 2009
Government’s increasing role as a regulator and payor for health care services has resulted in a large and growing government health care wedge—an economic separation of effort from reward, of consumers (patients) from producers (health care providers). Rising government expenditures for health care are the main factor driving the growth in the wedge, which has been a primary driver for rising health care costs created by inflation in medical costs. This paper examines the likely impact on the economy as a result of higher government spending related to federal health care legislation.