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    Back to To the Point

    To the Point

    Healthcare Spending Is on the Decline, but at What Cost?

    The good news is that America's historic expansion of healthcare spending has slowed to its lowest rate in 51 years, though that could change fast. The reason for the decline is the recession, which left millions unemployed, uninsured and less able or less willing to pay for doctors, hospitals and drugs.

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    By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

    The good news is that America's historic expansion of healthcare spending has slowed to its lowest rate in 51 years, though that could change fast. The reason for the decline is the recession, which left millions unemployed, uninsured and less able or less willing to pay for doctors, hospitals and drugs. Maybe they're just eliminating unnecessary care. However, if they're foregoing what they really need, they could get sicker and require much more in the future. We ask consumers why they've cut back and ask experts, will spending go up again when the economy improves?

    www.kcrw.com/insight.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Healthcare Spending Slows, but at What Cost?
    1. 0:00President Asks Congress for Power to Shrink Government
    2. 7:36Healthcare Spending Is on the Decline, but at What Cost?You’re reading this
    3. 43:26Euro Nations to Get Debt Downgrade
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Warren Olney

      former KCRW broadcaster

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Anna Scott

      Former KCRW Housing and Homelessness Reporter

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/e23b2c8a5a7a4a05410f82a6104e445f/custom_thumbnail_large.png?h=250&fm=webp

      Caitlin Shamberg

      KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Katie Cooper

      Producer, 'One year Later'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Joanna Worthington

      uninsured massage therapist

    • KCRW placeholder

      Susan Dentzer

      Health Affairs journal

    • KCRW placeholder

      Doug Holtz-Eakin

      American Action Forum

      NewsNationalPolitics

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Healthcare Spending Slows, but at What Cost?
    1. 0:00President Asks Congress for Power to Shrink Government
    2. 7:36Healthcare Spending Is on the Decline, but at What Cost?You’re reading this
    3. 43:26Euro Nations to Get Debt Downgrade
    Back to To the Point