**7. Conclusions**

Human lifespan has doubled over the last 150 years, with the quality of those extra years also rising. However, the % of GDP spent on healthcare has more than doubled at a rate that is unsustainable to continue for the next 150 years. The concept of using QALYs to maximize quality with limited resources has gained acceptance in countries throughout the world. The country's (e.g. in the E.U) with single payer systems are better situated to measure QALYs and use them to maximize quality of care compared to the United States. Societal norms, such as Rule of Rescue, prevent the maximum use of QALYs. The lack of transparency to prices and the ease with which the U.S. can borrow money has both made the use of QALYs difficult. As the costs, outcomes, and options of clinical interventions are made more clear and accessible to society writ large, the cost of healthcare can be lowered and average quality increased at a national level.
