Homeostasis without Reserve — The Risk of Health System Collapse

Abstract

In this Sounding Board article, the author describes the changes in public policy and in the marketplace that have placed stress on the U.S. health care system over the past decade. The system has showed considerable homeostasis, and its structure has not changed dramatically. The author contends, however, that we have not addressed the underlying problems and that the turbulence of the past 10 years has left our health care system with little reserve and vulnerable to collapse.