The Opportunity
The rising cost of healthcare is a growing economic and public health crisis that hurts the U.S. economy, threatens individual financial security, compromises care and reduces patient access. Excessive spending on healthcare places significant burdens on American businesses and family budgets and endangers the funding of vital programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
Our Goal
Our goal is to develop and share specific, commonsense recommendations and policy and practice solutions to that can be advanced and implemented by elected officials, policymakers, health systems, insurers, businesses, patients and other stakeholders. West Health is committed to tracking and measuring progress to hold stakeholders accountable for reducing healthcare costs.
West Health-Gallup 2021 Healthcare in America Report
The 2021 Healthcare in America Report details the experiences of an American public that is increasingly burdened by high healthcare costs and growing more and more pessimistic about the future of the nation’s healthcare system.
Key findings include:
- Nearly 100 million U.S. adults characterize the healthcare system as “expensive” and “broken”
- 38 million Americans say they have greater difficulties in paying for healthcare
- Two-thirds of U.S. adults think voters have very little to no power in reducing the cost of healthcare in the U.S.
- An estimated 12.7 million Americans report knowing a friend or family member who died this past year after not receiving treatment because they could not afford it
Drug Spending Portfolio
West Health focuses on developing evidence-based solutions to drive forward change to ensure that Americans can access the prescription drugs they need at prices they can afford through:
- Original research and policy analysis conducted by West Health’s experts on drug spending
- Public opinion research that tracks, evaluates, and highlights Americans’ experiences and struggles with affording needed medications
- Objective policy solutions that would lower prescription drug costs and improve patient access to lifesaving medications
Featured National Initiative: Civica Rx
Civica Rx exists in the public interest as a non-stock, non-profit corporation committed to stabilizing the supply of essential generic medications. Founded by seven leading hospital systems concerned about generic drug shortages and three philanthropic members passionate about improving healthcare, including the Gary and Mary West Foundation, Arnold Ventures and the Peterson Center on Healthcare. Since it’s inception, more than 50 Health Systems have joined Civica as Governing, Founding and Partnering members, representing over 1,400 U.S. hospitals and representing one-third of the nation’s licensed hospital beds.
Issue Brief: Healthcare Cost Burden among Adults with Employer-Sponsored Insurance
Over 21 million Americans had out-of-pocket spending on medical care plus health insurance premiums totaling 10% or more of their gross family income. West Health’s research with IMPAQ identifies the populations most at risk of high healthcare cost burdens among individuals with Employer Sponsored Insurance.
Our Focus Areas - Three Common-Sense Reforms
Three common-sense reforms – lowering the cost of prescription drugs, accelerating the adoption of value-based care models, and increasing price transparency for consumers and employers.
Lowering Healthcare Costs News
October 2, 2023
Medicare Part B Spending on Macular Degeneration Treatments Associated With Manufacturer Payments to Ophthalmologists
August 28, 2023
Regardless of Political Party, Americans Overwhelmingly Support Medicare Drug Price Negotiations
December 5, 2022
Stress Prominent Among U.S. Adults Struggling to Pay for Care
Lowering Healthcare Costs Resources
West Health does not accept unsolicited business plans or proposals.