Biomaterial Database

Health care rationing in the United States: are we there yet? 1992

M H Spiegler

Given the skyrocketing costs of health care in the United States, some experts propose official health care rationing as a solution to the crisis. Others maintain the position that health care is already being rationed because of cost, and always has been. This paper presents evidence supporting both viewpoints and, by exploring two definitions of "rationing," shows that they are not mutually exclusive. Practical applications to optometry as a health profession are mentioned.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009907	Optometry	The professional practice of primary eye and vision care that includes the measurement of visual refractive power and the correction of visual defects with lenses or glasses.	Optometries
D005102	Health Expenditures	The amounts spent by individuals, groups, nations, or private or public organizations for total health care and/or its various components. These amounts may or may not be equivalent to the actual costs (HEALTH CARE COSTS) and may or may not be shared among the patient, insurers, and/or employers.	Expenditure,Expenditures, Health,Health Expenditure,Out Of Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Cost,Out-of-Pocket Expense,Out-of-Pocket Payment,Expenditures,Expenditures, Direct,Expenditures, Indirect,Expenditures, Out-of-Pocket,Out-of Pocket Expenditures,Out-of-Pocket Costs,Out-of-Pocket Expenses,Out-of-Pocket Payments,Out-of-Pocket Spending,Cost, Out-of-Pocket,Costs, Out-of-Pocket,Direct Expenditure,Direct Expenditures,Expenditure, Direct,Expenditure, Health,Expenditure, Indirect,Expenditure, Out-of Pocket,Expenditure, Out-of-Pocket,Expenditures, Out of Pocket,Expenditures, Out-of Pocket,Expense, Out-of-Pocket,Expenses, Out-of-Pocket,Indirect Expenditure,Indirect Expenditures,Out of Pocket Cost,Out of Pocket Costs,Out of Pocket Expenditures,Out of Pocket Expense,Out of Pocket Expenses,Out of Pocket Payment,Out of Pocket Payments,Out of Pocket Spending,Out-of Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Expenditure,Out-of-Pocket Expenditures,Payment, Out-of-Pocket,Payments, Out-of-Pocket,Spending, Out-of-Pocket
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481	United States	A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
D015276	Health Care Rationing	Planning for the equitable allocation, apportionment, or distribution of available health resources.	Allocation of Health Care Resources,Allocation of Healthcare Resources,Rationing, Health Care,Healthcare Rationing,Healthcare Resources Allocation,Healthcare Resources Allocations,Rationing, Healthcare,Resources Allocation, Healthcare
D017048	Health Care Costs	The actual costs of providing services related to the delivery of health care, including the costs of procedures, therapies, and medications. It is differentiated from HEALTH EXPENDITURES, which refers to the amount of money paid for the services, and from fees, which refers to the amount charged, regardless of cost.	Medical Care Costs,Treatment Costs,Costs, Medical Care,Health Costs,Healthcare Costs,Cost, Health,Cost, Health Care,Cost, Healthcare,Cost, Medical Care,Cost, Treatment,Costs, Health,Costs, Health Care,Costs, Healthcare,Costs, Treatment,Health Care Cost,Health Cost,Healthcare Cost,Medical Care Cost,Treatment Cost