Saum Sutaria, M.D.

Well, I'm sure with good questions, I'm going to learn a lot too. So I'm looking forward to it as well.

Well, I'm sure with good questions, I'm going to learn a lot too. So I'm looking forward to it as well.

Let's start with how the system works from a financing perspective, and then I think we can talk about how that's different than other countries. We can talk about the impact on outcomes, and we can probably even start to set up the framework on, as you say, the things people are interested in, why, and what can we do about it.

Let's start with how the system works from a financing perspective, and then I think we can talk about how that's different than other countries. We can talk about the impact on outcomes, and we can probably even start to set up the framework on, as you say, the things people are interested in, why, and what can we do about it.

But it's hard to start anywhere other than this is now close to 20% of the US economy, healthcare, 17, 18% currently.

But it's hard to start anywhere other than this is now close to 20% of the US economy, healthcare, 17, 18% currently.

Yeah, we're talking about a US economy gross domestic product that's probably $28 trillion. That's 20% of the world, 25% of the world's economy. With about 7% or less. And another way to think about it, that's almost $90,000 per person in the US. We spend $11,000 to $12,000 per person in the US on total healthcare expenditure.

Yeah, we're talking about a US economy gross domestic product that's probably $28 trillion. That's 20% of the world, 25% of the world's economy. With about 7% or less. And another way to think about it, that's almost $90,000 per person in the US. We spend $11,000 to $12,000 per person in the US on total healthcare expenditure.

Just to put that in context, $4 trillion of expenditure in the healthcare sector. If you added up all of the exports that the United States sends out across all industries, you're talking about $3 trillion. We import more than we export. We're a consumer culture. That's close to $4 trillion, but not quite at $4 trillion today.

Just to put that in context, $4 trillion of expenditure in the healthcare sector. If you added up all of the exports that the United States sends out across all industries, you're talking about $3 trillion. We import more than we export. We're a consumer culture. That's close to $4 trillion, but not quite at $4 trillion today.

I mean, you just put that in context in terms of how much we spend in healthcare in the US. It's a huge... huge number. And I appreciate the comments about how healthcare is a topic waxes and wanes with respect to being top of mind. But any discussion about the economy, about inflation, about jobs, you're really talking about healthcare in many ways.

I mean, you just put that in context in terms of how much we spend in healthcare in the US. It's a huge... huge number. And I appreciate the comments about how healthcare is a topic waxes and wanes with respect to being top of mind. But any discussion about the economy, about inflation, about jobs, you're really talking about healthcare in many ways.

It may not be as direct as talking about healthcare policy, but you're really talking about healthcare given that it's almost 20% of the economy. And there's no escaping that.

It may not be as direct as talking about healthcare policy, but you're really talking about healthcare given that it's almost 20% of the economy. And there's no escaping that.

Well, it probably represents, in terms of wages, a little bit more than that, because the average wage in healthcare is higher than in other areas. And this is something that as we get into how you think about the future, we should talk about. Because as healthcare, as a percentage of the U.S. economy grows, you can't have that happen without considering what it does to the rest of the economy.

Well, it probably represents, in terms of wages, a little bit more than that, because the average wage in healthcare is higher than in other areas. And this is something that as we get into how you think about the future, we should talk about. Because as healthcare, as a percentage of the U.S. economy grows, you can't have that happen without considering what it does to the rest of the economy.

And that's going to be an important discussion around U.S. competitiveness, U.S. affordability, U.S. coverage, et cetera, given the nature of health care and health care issues today.

And that's going to be an important discussion around U.S. competitiveness, U.S. affordability, U.S. coverage, et cetera, given the nature of health care and health care issues today.

Let's do that because I think we can do it quickly and give people a sense of what happened. But let's just start with painting the picture of where we are today. And then let's back up and say, how did we get here? So $4 trillion, just to keep this simple, about a trillion of that, okay, one fourth comes from consumers.

Let's do that because I think we can do it quickly and give people a sense of what happened. But let's just start with painting the picture of where we are today. And then let's back up and say, how did we get here? So $4 trillion, just to keep this simple, about a trillion of that, okay, one fourth comes from consumers.