Facts About Health Care in America

• In 2007, health care spending reached $2.2 trillion in the U.S.
  Reference: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/proj2008.pdf ~ 1st paragraph
• Health care spending represents 16.2% of the nation’s GDP (in 2007), and is expected to comprise 20.3% of GDP by 2018.
  Reference: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/proj2008.pdf ~ 2nd paragraph
• The figures for defense spending (as a percentage of GDP) are 4.3%.
  Reference:  http://www.defenselink.mil/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=51970
• Based on this, health care spending is not quite 4 times that of defense spending, in terms of GDP.
• Institutional care is costly-- based on a 2008 market study done by MetLife, the average daily rate for nursing home care is $189. 
  Reference: http://www.metlife.com/assets/cao/mmi/publications/mmi-pressroom/mmi-press-releases-2008-nhal-costs.pdf?SCOPE=Metlife&MSHiC=65001&L=10&W=cost%20home%20nursing%20&Pre=%3CFONT%20STYLE%3D%22background%3A%23ffff00%22%3E&Post=%3C/FONT%3E
• Even if the care was affordable, there were only 1.6 million nursing home beds in the US in 2007,   according to the Kaiser Family Foundation (www.kff.org).
  Reference: http://www.statehealthfacts.org/profileind.jsp?cat=8&rgn=1&ind=413

Aging Population

• In 2000, people over the age of 65 represented 12.4% of the US population, but are projected to represent 14.8% in 2010.  By 2040, the projection of population aged 65+ is 23.6%.
  Reference: http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/c2kprof00-us.pdf (see page 2).
  Reference: http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/files/nation/summary/np2008-t2.xls.  
• In 2008, there were nearly 39 million persons aged 65+.
  Reference: http://www.census.gov/popest/national/asrh/NC-EST2008/NC-EST2008-02.xls. 
• By 2030, baby boomers will comprise nearly 72 million persons aged 65+, and by 2050, that number will increase to a record 108 million. 
• In 2011, 77 million baby boomers will begin retiring and public policy experts predict this will increase demand for health care services.

Clinical Shortages

• In 2006, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 867,100 nurses (RNs and LPNs).  The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that 1,347,600 nurses (RNs and LPNs) will be needed by 2016. www.bls.gov
• Auerbach, Buerhaus and Staiger reported in Health Affairs, 2007, an estimated shortage of 340,000 nurses in the U.S.  (2007) Reference:http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Legislative/NursingShortage.aspx#Auerbach#Auerbach
• According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) (2007), the American Hospital Association reported that the national registered nurse vacancy rate was 8.1%, which translates to 116,000 empty jobs (American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 2008a).  Reference: http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ANAMarketplace/ANAPeriodicals/OJIN/Columns/Legislative/NursingShortage.aspx#AACN08a#AACN08a
• “Unfortunately, the problem of shortages is not contained to primary care. A total of 17 medical specialties, including general surgery, cardiology, and emergency care, report shortages.”  Reference: Joseph M. Heyman, MD; Board chair, American Medical Association; letter to the editor, “AMA to Boston Globe: Shortages Not Only in Primary Care”, May 5, 2009 (published). http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/letters-editor/boston-globe-physician-shortages.shtml
• “The National Center for Health Workforce Analysis at HRSA has projected a growing shortage of RNs over the next 15 years, with a 12% shortage by 2010 and a 20% shortage by 2015 (Figure 6). The projected shortage is the result of the expected increase in demand, coupled with a relatively stable supply of RNs [6].” Reference: http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/healthworkforce/nursingshortage/tech_report/default.htm

Rising Health Care Costs, Aging Population,
Clinical Shortages – What Can We Do?