The topic in Something to Think About is “Why are Health Care Costs Rising? Here’s One Reason.” A lot of attention has been focused recently on the increase in health care insurance premiums, the high cost of pharmaceuticals and the overall increase in health care costs. The political targets have been drug companies, doctors, hospitals and insurance companies. But are there other reasons that have pushed up the costs? What about government regulations and requirements that have added significant costs without providing significant benefits for the nation’s health care system?

Starting October 1, the federal government is requiring the U.S. health care system to switch to a massive new set of codes for describing illnesses and injuries. How will this new system improve health care? What are the benefits of the new system? Are the additional costs justified? What is the “Right Thing to do?”