摘要
The U.S.healthcare initiative led by President Obama made progress this year toward its three major goals—extending medical insurance coverage to more Americans,curbing stratospheric healthcare spending that was approaching 18%of GDP,and improving the quality of care.Meanwhile,Republican and Tea Party critiques,lawsuits,foot-dragging from a large number of states,and technical glitches with website
Tthe U.S. healthcare initiative led by President Obama made progress this year toward its three major goals--extending medical insurance coverage to more Americans, curbing stratospheric healthcare spending that was approaching 18% of GDP, and improving the quality of care. Meanwhile, Republican and Tea Party critiques, lawsuits, foot-dragging from a large number of states, and technical glitches with website sign-ups have bedeviled the introduction of the Affordable Care Act, nicknamed Obamacare. Is it too early to judge whether the new healthcare plan will relieve or intensify pressure on the federal deficit？ Can it control healthcare costs that have skyrocketed in the last 10 years given the number of American retirees and senior citizens？ What will its long-term impact be on the U.S. economy, employment and social programs such as Medicare？ Even if Obamacare survives in its current form, will it take years for positive results？
