The “supreme irony” of healthcare in the United States is that while Americans eschew limits on care—as is done in Canada or Great Britain—they expect someone else to cover most of the costs. This situation creates a kind of “bizarre love triangle” among healthcare providers, insurers and consumers of medical services.

These were among the key points made by J.D. Kleinke, a healthcare economist, author, entrepreneur and analyst of the American healthcare scene, in a keynote address on trends and developments in U.S. healthcare. Kleinke spoke during TRSA’s Healthcare Conference on Nov. 15, 2017, in Salt Lake City. His wide-ranging ...