美国关于医疗卫生费用的理论研究与政策争论

Theoretical Research and Policy Debate on Health Care Expenditures in US

如何认识和控制医疗卫生费用的上涨,长期以来一直是美国理论界研究和争论的一个焦点问题。技术进步是推动费用上涨最重要的因素。而医疗卫生费用的快速上涨既会损害公平,也会损害效率。政府管制与市场竞争是控制费用的两种理念与方法。但是,在美国这样一个利益分化、文化多元、政治分权的社会,要想在医疗卫生费用问题上,特别是在费用控制问题上达成某种共识,尚有很长的路要走。

For a long time, how to understand and control the escalating health care expenditures has been a focus issue which is studied and debated by American researchers. Development of technology is the most important factor which pushes the expenditures to rise. The escalating health care expenditures will damage equity as well as efficiency. Both Regulation and competition are ideas and methods used to control health care expenditures. However, it is far away from common understanding on the issue of health care expenditures, especially on cost containment in a society like America.