Decline of the United States Health Care Industry in the Late Twentieth Century.
Through most of the 20th century, health care in the United States was based on one-on-one personal relationships between patients and their trusted local family physicians. After the introduction of Federal health insurance programs in the 1960s, private insurance companies began questioning medical procedures and expenses. Increasing control by insurers took away choices, drove up costs, and changed the role of physicians. Today with many Americans uninsured or underinsured, people are lacking access to proper medical care and the crisis situation continues to get worse. 9 pgs. 12 f/c. 4b.