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Article: Is a modest health care system possible?(80% Less Energy)(Critical essay)
- Article from:
- Synthesis/Regeneration
- Article date:
- September 22, 2007
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2007 WD Press. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The health care system in the US is generally regarded by economists and activists as over-scaled and inefficient. Health care consumes nearly 15% of the US GDP (high as compared to most industrialized nations) while providing insured access only to about 85% of the population. Moreover, the provision of health care services has a relatively small effect on public health as compared to what people generally expect of it.
Substantial reductions in the overall scale of health care thus at first appear to be an excellent idea. However, health care also provides services key to the health and happiness of many individuals and vulnerable groups. So, reductions in ...