Article
Overutilization, Over Utilized
Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law
(2015)
Abstract
Overutilization is commonly blamed for escalating costs, compromising quality, and limiting access to the US health care system. Recent estimates suggest that nearly one-third of health care spending in the United States is a result of unnecessary care. Despite the surge of expose´s that purport to uncover this ‘‘new'' problem, narratives about overutilization have been circulating in health policy debates since the beginnings of the health insurance industry. This article traces how the term overutilization has spread in popularity from a relatively small community of mid-twentiethcentury insurance experts to economists, physicians, epidemiologists, and eventually the news media of the early twenty-first century. A quick glimpse at the history of the term reveals that there has been constant disagreement and debate over the meaning and impact of overutilization. Moreover, the term has been put to very different uses, from keeping socialism at bay to preserving the fiscal integrity of Medicare to protecting the health of patients. The overutilization narrative, seductive in its promise of cutting costs without sacrificing access to quality care, too often drowns out other difficult conversations about social welfare, health equity, prices, and universal coverage.
Disciplines
Publication Date
April, 2015
DOI
10.1215/03616878-2882281
Publisher Statement
Copyright of Journal of Health Politics, Policy & Law is the property of Duke University Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Citation Information
Deborah A. Levine and Jessica Mulligan. "Overutilization, Over Utilized" Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law Vol. 40 Iss. 2 (2015) p. 421 - 437 ISSN: 0361-6878 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/jessica_mulligan/19/