Facts About Health Care in America
Rising Health Care Costs
- In 2003, health care spending reached $1.7 trillion in the United States, which is 4.3 times the amount spent on national defense.
- Health care spending represents 15% of the nation’s GDP, which is expected to increase to 19% of GDP in the next 10 years.
- Institutional care is costly -- based on the 2002 market survey done by MetLife, the average daily rate for nursing home care is $156. Even if the care was affordable, there are only 1.8 million nursing facility beds in the US.
Aging Population
- In 2000, people over the age of 65 represented 12% of the US population, but are projected to represent 20% of the US population by 2030.
- In 2003, there were 36 million older persons.
- By 2030, baby boomers will comprise nearly 72 million older persons, and by 2050, that number will increase to a record 87 million people over the age of 65.
- 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 2004, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected that more than one million new and replacement nurses will be needed by 2012. According to the American Nurses Association, US hospitals average about 126,000 nurse vacancies nationwide, or 13%.–read more...
- In 2002, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) reported that 30 states currently would have shortages of registered nurses (RNs). The shortage is projected to intensify over the next two decades.–read more...
- In 2005, the American Medical Association publicly acknowledged that there are inadequate numbers of current and projected physicians in the areas of critical care, dermatology, radiology, endocrinology, allergy and immunology, psychiatry, cardiology, and geriatrics.
Rising Health Care Costs, Aging Population,
Clinical Shortages – What Can We Do?
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 "Our goal is to increase the availability and use of technology in home care and health care settings. HCTAA will address the issues stifling the use of technology that helps our seniors age in place."
Bob Waters
Executive Director, HCTAA
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