In the survey, Texas Medical Center Health Policy Institute polled 9,000-plus consumers spanning 15 states and 450 physicians across the nation.
Here are four survey findings:
1. Of physicians, 45 percent believe payers are the reason healthcare costs are high. Twenty-eight percent of consumers blame payers for these high costs.
2. Thirty percent of consumers and 19 percent of physicians say drug and device manufacturers are driving high healthcare costs.
3. Forty percent of physicians and 29 percent of consumers say officials can lower healthcare costs through two mechanisms — increasing health insurance costs and placing high taxes on unhealthy foods for smokers and obese individuals.
4. Healthcare is unaffordable for many consumers, with 49 percent of consumer respondents saying they have to reduce spending in other areas to pay for their healthcare.
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