How one nation transformed a health care system. Can America do big things anymore?
The New York Times
Date: Dec. 26, 2017
By: Aaron E. Carroll and Austin Frakt
Taiwan is proof that a country can make a swift and huge change to its health care system,
The Taipei 101 building, far left, in Taiwan. Relative to the U.S. and some other countries, Taiwan spends a lot less of its economy on health care.CreditDavid Chang/European Pressphoto Agency
even in the modern day.
The United States, in part because of political stalemate, in part because it has been hemmed in by its history, has been unable to be as bold.
Singapore, which we wrote about in October, tinkers with its health care system all the time. Taiwan, in contrast, revamped its top to bottom.
Less than 25 years ago, Taiwan had a patchwork system that included insurance provided for those who worked privately or for the government, or for trade associations involving farmers or fishermen. Out-of-pocket payments were high, and physicians practiced independently. In March 1995, all that changed. [FULL STORY]
