Tom Harkin: “It is time for fundamental change in our approach to health care in the United States. I have been saying for years that…”

“It is time for fundamental change in our approach to health care in the United States. I have been saying for years that currently we have a sick care system, not a health care system. We have a system that, if you get sick, you get care. But there is precious little support, incentives or otherwise, to keep you healthy in the first place. We are paying very dearly for this foolish choice of having a sick care system rather than a health care system. The latest evidence comes from a new study by health economist Kenneth Thorpe. Mr. Thorpe found it cost $200 billion more in 2000 to treat diseases and conditions in this country than it did in 1987. Just 15 health conditions accounted for a whopping 56 percent of the growth in spending between 1987 and 2000. Indeed, a closer look shows that just five conditions accounted for one-third of the $200 billion increase: heart disease, pulmonary conditions, mental disorders, cancer, and hypertension. What do all these conditions have in common? In many if not most cases, these conditions are preventable.”