PHA-Exch> Fwd: [EQ] Financing the Health Care System. Is Long-term Sustainability Possible?

[Claudio Schuftan]

From: Ruggiero, Mrs. Ana Lucia (WDC) <ruglucia at paho.org>
crossposted from: EQUIDAD at listserv.paho.org

 *Financing the Health Care System. Is Long-term Sustainability Possible?*

* *

*Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - December 15, 2008*

Sean Burnett



Available online as PDF [15p.] at:

http://www.policyalternatives.ca/~ASSETS/DOCUMENT/Saskatchewan_Pubs/2008/Financing_Health_Care_Dec_11.pdf



"… The report analyzes three indicators of sustainability: the ratio of
total health care spending to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the ratio of
public spending on health care to GDP and the ratio of government health
expenditures to total government revenue.  …."





"…..The Analysis of Health Care Expenditures focuses on expenditures for
health care as a determinate of sustainability. The first part looks at
historical trends in spending, followed by estimated cost drivers and the
expected influence these will have on total health care spending. Finally,
financing options will be reviewed for their impact on public spending.

In a recent paper Ruggeri (2006) analysed sustainability of health care. He
suggests there are several indicators of sustainability with three being the
most useful:

1 The ratio of *total *health care spending to GDP.

2 The ratio of *public *spending on health care to GDP.

3 The ratio of *government *health expenditures to total government revenue.

These indicators provide a framework to determine sustainability using
additional data to the original Ruggeri study. The chosen indicators are
important because they can be used to refute claims by opponents of the
public health care system that it is in fiscal crisis…."



*Content*

Introduction

Categories of Health Spending

History of Fiscal Federalism

Moving Towards a "Two-Tier" System

Analysis of Health Care Expenditures
The Impact of Future Costs on Sustainability

Not a Public Health Care Fiscal Crisis

Policy Recommendations

Avoid Privatization

Reform the Pu
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