An Unhealthy Relationship: Perceived Health Status vs. Health Expenditures

drlesko — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 12:00:21 +0000

Self-perceived health status, tracked by the CDC, is correlated with increased morbidity and early mortality risk. The Robert Graham Center examined the relationship between health status and US health spending: hardly what the doctor ordered. This is a key relationship CRHO will explore: wellness (subjective and objective)/health $, from the micro to macro level. What better metric to lead the way in healthcare reform?

Clearly, high-cost, fragmented healthcare does not make people healthier. What does? Having health insurance? Having access to brand-name pharmaceuticals? The ability to choose or change doctors? Having access to a primary care doctor or a “medical home”? Amount of time spent with a doctor?

Wellness and health status may have little to do with healthcare. Is health better reflected by other measures: a feeling of belonging, being valued and loved, contributing to a common good? Is health most directly correlated with fitness level, education, income? What public health interventions since 1990 have been shown to improve wellness?

Unlimited research paths to unite under one guiding theme: what is the best way to improve the slope on these 2 graphs?

Problem #1: a 14-year old’s comment on seeing these 2 graphs. ”Well, it’s good for healthcare companies when people feel unhealthy. They make money.”

Precisely.

Center for Researching Health Outcomes » Interesting Research

An Unhealthy Relationship: Perceived Health Status vs. Health Expenditures