title: Measuring human betterment through avoidable mortality: a case for universal health care in the USA.
abstract: The USA system of health care has begun a monumental change that will affect everyone, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, professional status or pre-existing health insurance status. Whatever type of plan is finally implemented through the legislative process, there will need to be a way to evaluate its success (or failure). One way to evaluate the plan's effectiveness is through its impact on human betterment as viewed by a reduction in 'avoidable mortality' for those most in need of health care; the poor and uninsured. For one USA minority population, universal health care has improved human betterment by reducing avoidable mortality, even in the face of a severe burden of poverty.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Hisnanick
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Coddington
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D018166:Health Care Reform / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D009026:Mortality; D009310:National Health Insurance, United States; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology