Economic Data Tidbit....

Highest Health Spending -- As a percentage of GDP

1. United States 15.4
2. West Bank and Gaza 13.0
3. Malawi 12.9
4. Lebanon 11.6
5. Switzerland 11.5
6. Germany 10.6
7. France 10.5
8. Austria 10.3
9. Serbia 10.1
10. Iceland 9.9
11. Jordan 9.8
11. Portugal 9.8
11. Canada 9.8

UK? Not in the top 30.

So the US spends at least 18% (relatively, far more absolutely) more than any other nation in the world on health care. Roughly 35-45% more than the highest European spenders and we still have more than 15% uninsured. I'm aware that a real portion of our spending is on R&D, which is often not recovered from other nations even though they benefit. I also recognize that we are the most health obsessed nation in the world, with a commitment to conduct an expensive procedure whenever it is plausible. It seems that health care reform will require not only providing coverage to everyone (focusing on preventative care), but could also require some reevaluation of our treatment plans and usage amounts. Health is important, but there is something suspiciously odd about spending 45% more on it than the Germans do.