The pressures to cut health care costs are enormous, but these cuts can also be a double-edged sword. Certainly, no one would argue against cutting fraud and overuse. But at a time when job creation is so important, the health sector is and will be a key player. These jobs are not just for a broad variety of health care providers, but also for a large range of administrative and management positions. A recent article points this out by focusing on individuals who cross over from other economic sectors to work in health care. As health care exceeds one-sixth of the economy and one out of every ten jobs, it becomes increasingly difficult to disentangle needed job growth from excessive health care spending in terms of driving the economy. This is especially true if there is some kind of health reform that increases access to a substantial number of persons who are currently either uninsured or underinsured. As we have pointed out in our report, Out of Order, Out of Time: The State of the Nation’s Health Workforce, we need to gain a more in-depth understanding of the kinds and numbers of health providers that are needed to take care of patients now and in the future. Perhaps by engaging in this discussion we can address the complex issues around “right-sizing” health care.
Tags: Health care, Health Reform, health workforce, job creation, jobs, the economy
