Competing to death: California's high-risk system.

Conrpetitiorr in Cnlifonria lrns cost lives nrrd rrrorrey. Sl~iftirrg cure o11t of hospitnls redrrced 1ro.spitnl sperrrlirrg relative to otlrer states, brrt overnll henlth sperrdirrg per cnl~itcr ose to tlre seco~rd lrigl~est in tlr e nation i12 1990. Higlr spe~rcli~rg coe.rists rvitlr 1o1v rates ofcovernge tlre strrtc rnrrks severrtlr irr percerltnge ofpeople Inckirrg irtslrrnrrce. Hospitals /rove closed errtergerrq~ roorrrs and otlrer 111rproj7tnble services rvhile rrtarketi~rg d~rplicntive nrrd ofterr rrrrrrecessnry services to ilre ~vell-inslrred With renl free nrnrkets r~rrottnirrrrble irr herrltlr cnre, Cnl$or~rin's co~rrpetitive rlretoric hos rntionnlized growing irrequcr1itie.s nnd lriglrer costs. Tlre r~rnrket's invisible lrnrrd lras picked Cnlifouriarrs'pockets nrrd enrinrtgered botlr riclr arrd poor: