By Patricia L Johnson

The healthcare system in the United States leaves much to be desired and Michael Moore has brought that fact to light in his new movie "Sicko". 

Unfortunately, the fact that U.S. healthcare is in desperate need of a major overhaul is being overshadowed by the fact that Michael Moore’s movie makes statements that are simply not representative of current facts.

A prime example comes from the June 29, 2007 interview with Larry King of Larry King Live, on CNN.  A transcript of the interview follows:

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0706/29/lkl.02.html

KING: There’s a quick flash when you list the medical systems in the world. And the United States comes in 37th. Cuba comes in 39th.

MOORE: Yes, that’s correct.

From Michael Moore’s open letter to CNN

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN: "(Moore says) the United States slipped to number 37 in the world’s health care systems. It’s true. … Moore brings a group of patients, including 9/11 workers, to Cuba and marvels at their free treatment and quality of care. But hold on – that WHO list puts Cuba’s health care system even lower than the United States, coming in at #39."

THE TRUTH:

"But hold on?" ‘SiCKO’ clearly shows the WHO list, with the United States at number #37, and Cuba at #39. Right up on the screen in big five-foot letters. It’s even in the trailer! CNN should have its reporter see his eye doctor. The movie isn’t hiding from this fact. Just the opposite:

The ranking of the United States at number 37, Slovenia at number 38, and Cuba at number 39 comes from the June 21, 2000 report issued by the World Health Organization, based on Table 1 – Health system attainment and performance in all Member States, ranked by eight measures, estimates for 1997.

The overall health performance of the United States, Slovenia and Cuba were ranked at 37, 38, and 39 respectively, but this ranking is 10 years old.

The next two items in Moore’s open letter to CNN deal with the amount of money that the United States and Cuba spend on health care. 

CNN: "Moore asserts that the American health care system spends $7,000 per person on health. Cuba spends $25 dollars per person. Not true. But not too far off. The United States spends $6,096 per person, versus $229 per person in Cuba."

Dr. Sanjay Gupta erroneously quoted "Sicko" as stating $25 dollars per person was spent on healthcare in Cuba and apologized for this error to Michael Moore on national TV during his joint interview with Michael Moore. 

Michael Moore’s open letter sticks by his claim in "Sicko" that the U.S. will spend $7,092 per person on health care follows:

According to our own government – the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Health Expenditures Projections – the United States will spend $7,092 per capita on health in 2006 and $7,498 in 2007. (Department of Health and Human Services Center for Medicare and Medicaid Expenditures, National Health Expenditures Projections 2006-2016.

Moore is using PROJECTIONS from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – comparing estimated projections and actual figures on healthcare is no different than comparing what we estimated we would spend on the war in Iraq, back in 2003, to what we are actually spending – billions vs. trillions.

The FACTS on the U.S. and Cuba from the 2007 World Health Organization Statistics (based on 2004 data).

UNITED STATES

http://www.who.int/countries/usa/en/

Statistics:

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/80

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 6,096

Figures are for 2005 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2007

 

CUBA

http://www.who.int/countries/cub/en/

Statistics:

Life expectancy at birth m/f (years): 75/79

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2004): 229

Figures are for 2005 unless indicated. Source: World Health Statistics 2007

I’ve only researched two of the many claims that Michael Moore is making and my research indicates both his claims are exaggerated, perhaps for the sole purpose of selling tickets to his new movie. 

"Sicko" is classified as a ‘documentary’ by Michael Moore – a documentary is a film that presents FACTS and comparing 1997 statistics to 2006 estimated projections from two different sources, is not presenting the FACTS.  The citizens of this country deserve better from this filmmaker.

© 2007 Patricia L Johnson