Rationing and the Clinton health plan.
President Clinton, already facing formidable obstacles in reforming the health care system, denies that it will involve any rationing. This is politically understandable, but wrong. Infinite needs are rapidly overtaking finite resources. Most health providers recognize that the genius of modern medicine has outpaced our ability to pay. But the public still has unlimited expectations and a blind faith that everything can be provided to everyone by simply eliminating "waste, fraud, and abuse." Rationing is inherent in any health care system. As government undertakes to define what is "medically necessary or appropriate," it will unavoidably undertake a series of rationing decisions. Health care is being transformed from a private good to a public good. Government, when it reforms the health care system, must inevitably ask: How do we buy the most health for the public?
Lamm
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RD
Center for Public Policy & Contemporary Issues, University of Denver, Colorado 80208.
D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D035082:Federal Government; D033161:Government Regulation; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000592:standards*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D040841:Resource Allocation; D012935:Social Justice; D012941:Social Responsibility; D014481:United States