IMPACT In Healthcare | Interdisciplinary Medical & Patient Alliance for Care Transformation

The Commonwealth Fund utilized health data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) to take a closer look at the US healthcare system and compared it to 10 other high-income countries and found that: The U.S. spends more on health care as a share of the economy - nearly twice as much as the average OECD country - yet has the lowest life expectancy and highest suicide rates among the 11 nations. US healthcare spending, like other countries, has been a steadily increasing percentage of the GDP since the 1980s. In 2018 the US spent 16.9% of the GDP on healthcare... nearly double the 9.3% spent by New Zealand and Australia. By 2030 the US is projected to spend almost 20 percent of the GDP on healthcare costs. While U.S. public spending is similar to other countries, out-of-pocket and private spending is higher than most. When looking at per capita health spending the U.S. spent OVER $10,000... almost two times more than countries such as Australia, France, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. But why is the US spending so much more on healthcare...? → Overuse of expensive technologies, such as MRIs → Excessive specialized procedures, such as hip replacements → Administrative costs → Healthcare waste (i.e. overtreatment, fraud, administrative bloat, and failures in delivery and coordination of care) → High pharmaceutical prices In a comparison of health insurance admin costs, the US was found to spend $737 per capita on administration versus the $94 per capita spent by the average OECD country. Furthermore, the estimated cost of waste within the US healthcare system ranges from $760 billion to $935 billion... this waste accounts for approximately 25% of total healthcare spending. TLDR: Despite spending the most on healthcare when compared to other countries, the U.S. has been found to have worse health outcomes. This includes higher rates of hospitalization for preventable causes and higher numbers of avoidable deaths.

Gender affirming care is essential for mental and physical well-being. Access to gender-affirming care significantly improves mental health, reduces risk of suicide, and supports overall quality of life. Denying this care is not just harmful; it’s dangerous.

Large nonprofit hospital systems openly give large financial sums to lobbying organizations, like the American Hospital Association, with no loss in their tax exempt status. IRS clearly states, "an organization that conducts excessive lobbying in any taxable year may lose its tax-exempt status, resulting in all of its income being subject to tax." Why are nonprofit hospitals able to lobby against patient and Healthcare Workers best interests without being held accountable by the IRS?

100 Years of Failed Health Policy: The U.S. healthcare system wasn’t deliberately designed; it’s the result of over 100 years of moral panic, failed reforms, and repeated bipartisan attempts at universal healthcare. The fight for universal healthcare in the U.S. has been ongoing since the early 20th century. In 1915, the National Health Insurance (NHI) was first proposed by the American Association of Labor Legislation. But despite continued efforts, true universal healthcare has never been realized. Moral Panic About Socialism: Xenophobia and anti-German sentiment around WWI fueled the term "socialized medicine," which became a powerful tool to oppose NHI proposals. Roosevelt's Abandoned Plan: President Roosevelt planned to include national insurance in the Social Security Act of 1935 but dropped it due to mounting opposition in Congress. The American Medical Association, large businesses, and the health insurance industry fiercely opposed NHI and other reform efforts. Truman's Failed Proposal: President Truman proposed a single insurance system with subsidies for poorer Americans, this effort failed due to fear of socialism and the expansion of employer-sponsored insurance. Opponents again utilized fear of socialism and communism to undermine public support. 70s Reform Attempts: Attempts at reform continued in the 70s with competing plans from Senator Kennedy and President Nixon, but skepticism of NHI and the Watergate scandal derailed both. Nixon, who lost two brothers to tuberculosis, believed in universal health insurance access. Nixon proposed a plan to guarantee health insurance access for all Americans. This plan was destroyed by the Watergate scandal. Kennedy proposed a plan in 1962 to provide hospital insurance to the elderly, financed through Social Security. Carter & Clinton: President Carter’s efforts during his term were similarly unsuccessful. The focus shifted away from NHI and towards cost containment in healthcare. President Clinton proposed the Health Security Act for universal coverage, but opposition and differing objectives led to its failure. He did succeed with the CHIPS Act, expanding access to insurance for low-income children.

Content warning: ED The resurgence of “skinny” as the ideal—fueled by celebrity trends and social media—sets a dangerous standard that promotes body dissatisfaction. Industries profit from these insecurities, thriving off capitalism, patriarchy, and racism... Constant exposure to unrealistic bodies through social media, filters, and advertising creates anxiety, shame, and isolation. Distorted body image isn’t a personal flaw; it’s the result of societal oppression. Until we dismantle these harmful systems, eating disorders and poor self-image will persist.

Prior authorizations have been linked to adverse patient outcomes. Prior authorizations prevent clinicians from adequately treating patients. In a 2022 AMA survey, 34% of physicians reported that prior authorizations led to an adverse patient event such as hospitalization, disability, or death.  While prior authorizations are touted as a cost saving measure, patients are shouldering the true cost with their health and sometimes their lives. IMPACT in Healthcare: Fighting for a better system through education, research, and direct action. IMPACT is run by 100% volunteers, please consider donating, link in bio.