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________________________________ From: The Commonwealth Fund [mailto:[log in to unmask]] Subject: New International Survey: More Than Half of Chronically Ill U.S. Adults Skip Needed Care Due to Costs e-Alert | The Commonwealth Fund<http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/banner_ealert .gif> New International Survey: More Than Half of Chronically Ill U.S. Adults Skip Needed Care Due to Costs A new Commonwealth Fund survey <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/publications/publications_show.htm?doc_ id=726492> of chronically ill patients in eight industrialized nations finds that those in the U.S. are by far the most likely to forgo care because of the cost, as well as the most likely to experience medical errors, care coordination problems, and high out-of-pocket costs. According to the study, which also included Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, U.S. patients are significantly more likely to call for fundamental change in their country's health care system, with one-third saying the system needs to be rebuilt completely. The journal Health Affairs published the findings today as a Web Exclusive. More than half (54%) of U.S. chronically ill patients did not get recommended care, fill prescriptions, or see a doctor when sick because of the cost, compared with 7 percent to 36 percent in the seven other countries. About one-third of U.S. patients--again, the highest proportion--experienced medical, medication, or lab/diagnostic test errors. One-third encountered poorly coordinated care, including duplication of tests or medical records that were unavailable at the time of an appointment. And, reflecting the pervasiveness of high cost-sharing and coverage gaps, 41 percent of U.S. patients spent more than $1,000 in the past year on out-of-pocket medical costs, compared with 4 percent in the U.K. and 8 percent in the Netherlands. "The study highlights major problems in our broken health care system and the need to make major changes," said Commonwealth Fund Senior Vice President Cathy Schoen, lead author of the Health Affairs article. "Patients are telling us about inefficient, unsafe, and often wasteful care. Moreover, a lack of access as well as poor coordination of care is putting chronically ill patients at even higher health risk." <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/tdot.gif> Forward to a Friend <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/cnlib/pub/email_forward.htm?object_type _id=8&object_id=4139> Subscribe to e-Alerts <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/myprofile/> <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/divider_2.gif> Related Resources <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/hdr_rel_resources .gif> In Chronic Condition: Experiences of Patients with Complex Health Care Needs, in Eight Countries, 2008 Cathy Schoen, M.S., Robin Osborn, M.B.A., Sabrina K. H. How, M.P.A., Michelle M. Doty, Ph.D., and Jordon Peugh, M.A. Journal: Health Affairs Web Exclusive, November 13, 2008, w1-w16 November 13, 2008 Read more > <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_ item_id=33852&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecommonwealthfund%2Eorg%2Fpub lications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D726492%26%23doc726492 > Measuring the Health of Nations: Updating an Earlier Analysis Ellen Nolte, Ph.D., and C. Martin McKee, M.D., D.Sc. January 8, 2008 Read more > <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_ item_id=33849&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecommonwealthfund%2Eorg%2Fpub lications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D640980%26%23doc640980 > How Many Are Underinsured? Trends Among U.S. Adults, 2003 and 2007 Cathy Schoen, M.S., Sara R. Collins, Ph.D., Jennifer L. Kriss, Michelle M. Doty, Ph.D. June 10, 2008 Read more > <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/cnlib/pub/enews_clickthrough.htm?enews_ item_id=33851&return_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecommonwealthfund%2Eorg%2Fpub lications%2Fpublications%5Fshow%2Ehtm%3Fdoc%5Fid%3D688615%26%23doc688615 > <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/divider.gif> The Commonwealth Fund <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/> is a private foundation that aims to promote a high performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality, and greater efficiency. If you received this alert as a "forward" or if you would like to receive alerts on other issues, register for My Commonwealth Fund <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/myprofile/myprofile_edit.htm> , or send an e-mail to [log in to unmask] If you would like to unsubscribe, please go to the Manage Subscriptions page at http://www.commonwealthfund.org/subscriptions/subscriptions.htm or write to [log in to unmask] <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/divider.gif> Please add [log in to unmask] to your address book [vCard <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/vcard_ea.vcf> ] <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/img/newsletter_shared/divider.gif> Copyright 2008 (c) The Commonwealth Fund <http://www.commonwealthfund.org/> <http://phg.hitbox.com/HG?hc=wp189&cd=1&hv=6&ce=u&hb=WR54051839ZD80EN3&n =New+International+Survey:+More+Than+Half+of+Chronically+Ill+U.S.+Adults +Skip+Needed+Care+Due+to+Costs&vcon=Open+Rates+for+eAlert> Please access the attached hyperlink for an important electronic communications disclaimer: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/secretariat/legal/disclaimer.htm