Position Papers

Achieving a High-Performance Health Care System with Universal Access: What the United States Can Learn from Other Countries

Figure 1. U.S. national health expenditure (NHE) as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) and private and public shares of NHE, selected years 1965–2015.

Total NHE is the total amount spent in the United States to purchase health care goods and services during the year. Detailed definitions of the various components of NHEs can be found at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalHealthExpendData/downloads/dsm-05.pdf. The left axis (public and private spending's share of NHE) relates to the 2 line graphs. The right axis (NHE share of GDP) relates to the bars. Data for 2006, 2010, and 2015 are projections. Source: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Office of the Actuary, National Health Statistics Group.