Study: American Hospitals Outspend Those of Other Industrialized Nations

The 34-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development has released study findings showing American hospitals spend 163 percent more than hospitals in five other industrialized countries combined.

Per capita, American hospitals spend $2,922. This means American hospital spending is higher than the combined average hospital spending for Switzerland, Canada, Germany, France and Japan by more than 60 percent.

The study also found Americans pay more than $7,900 per person for healthcare each year but still die sooner than their peers in industrialized countries. Compared to the OECD average life expectancy of 79.5 years, the United State's is 78.2, even though Americans spend 2.5 times more than the OECD average health expenditure per person.

The report found the quality of American acute-care hospitals to be "generally good" compared to other OECD countries. Still, the primary care sector is "still underdeveloped, adding financial burden to the health system," according to the report.

To read the countries participating in OECD, click here.

Related Articles on American Healthcare Spending:

Moody's: Hospitals, Drug Companies Stand to Lose Most From Supercommittee
Report: Decision-Support, Prior Authorization for Imaging Unlikely to Save Costs
Study: $6.7B Spent on Unnecessary Tests, Drugs in 2009



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