STRATEGIC PLAN - ASPE - U.S. Department of Health and Human ...

CHAPTER 2: Health careThe system needs to make progress in providing the excellent quality ofcare that all Americans deserve.Today, disease, illness, and disability can be as much athreat to Americans’ financial well-being as they are toAmericans’ physical and mental well-being. EveryAmerican deserves reliable, high-quality, and reasonablypriced health care that will be there when it is needed.Health care has to be available, affordable, portable,transparent, and efficient.Health care in the United States is second to none,but it can be better. Although our Nation’s health carefacilities and medical professionals are the best inthe world, improving quality, constraining costs, andproviding greater access remain key priorities.Americans spend an increasing share of their incomeon health care. Health care spending in America hasincreased from 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product(GDP) in 1960 to more than 16 percent in 2006, and ispredicted to continue to rise. iv The increasing burden ofhealth spending on the U.S. economy is unsustainable.Higher spending on public programs such as Medicareand Medicaid strains Federal and State budgets. Higherinsurance premiums burden workers with higher healthcosts and pose a challenge for employers to cover bothwage increases and health insurance premiums.STRATEGIC GOAL 1: HEALTH CAREStrategic Objective 1.1:Broaden health insurance and long-termcare coverage.Strategic Objective 1.2:Increase health care service availability andaccessibility.Strategic Objective 1.3:Improve health care quality, safety, cost andvalue.Strategic Objective 1.4:Recruit, develop and retain a competenthealth care workforce.HHS Strategic Plan FY 2007-201223