Mismanaged Money in American Healthcare

Book excerpt: Warren Buffett famously invoked the metaphor of a tapeworm when describing what healthcare is to the American economy. The United States spends approximately 20% of its gross national product on healthcare, but it is unclear where the money goes or who is minding the store. This healthcare crisis is mostly about money--not lack of money, but rather misspending of money. From the perspective of a healthcare auditor and provider, this work describes the problems of American healthcare finance and proposes solutions. Extensive charts and graphs are used to trace where money goes in the American healthcare system, while other topics such as ethics in healthcare billing, un-auditable hospital costs and scams are discussed. There is evidence that clearly identifies where the money goes, and its destination may surprise the reader.