Health Care Spending, Delivery, and Outcome in Developed Countries: A Cross-National Comparison

This study examines the trend of health care spending, availability and use of medical services, and aggregate health outcome of the 24 industrialized member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Major differences between the United States and other OECD countries are highlighted and discussed. The results of the study demonstrate that, over the past four decades, the United States has been spending more and accomplishing less when compared with other industrialized nations. The United States needs to learn from the successful experience of other nations. Redesigning the system of health care delivery in the United States may be the only viable option to improve the quality of health care.