(Snippets from the frontline)
COVID-19/BLM: U.S. life expectancy decrease: Pointing fingers
Recent CDC announcements revealing the U.S. life expectancy decrease of 1% was shocking. It was already on the decline before COVID-19, with fingers pointing instead at escalating drug-overdose problems, yet ignoring the greatest contributor: Healthcare costs.
Look carefully at the graph relating Life Expectancy versus Health Expenditure. Compared to other countries, the U.S. graphic position is an anomaly. We stand alone in expenditures per capita with profits by hospitals, the insurance industry, and pharmaceutic companies taking the biggest chunk of medical expenses. Anyone surprised?
The CDC data is three times worse for people of color, revealing the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the lack of healthcare access and pre-existing medical problems in the poor.
Graphs and data are subject to interpretation, and one has to dig deep analyzing information. Even from 30,000 feet, the graphic landscape displays an unsavory worry that healthcare in the U.S. has been sorrowfully and greedily manipulated.
Profiteers cannot be ignored any further, as we must hold them responsible for the present decline in life expectancy.
Let’s point fingers in the right direction, and put blame where problems really lie.
Gene Uzawa Dorio, M.D.
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