Corporate Healthcare Coverage, Term Paper Example

Introduction

The government possesses a responsibility to provide oversight and some of the resources that are required to improve healthcare outcomes for communities. Treatment of the uninsured is only one area where access to healthcare services is of critical importance; however, other areas must be considered that influence residents on a daily basis and throughout the life span. The government must provide the foundation to ensure that residents experience greater comfort and security in navigating the dynamics of the healthcare system as they move forward. It is important for the government to exercise its influence in supporting healthcare practice without overstepping the boundaries of personal freedom and privacy in managing individual healthcare needs at the desired level. The government, therefore, must emphasize its responsibility to patients and also aim to impact its citizens in a manner that is both engaging and insightful regarding their healthcare needs.

Body

From a patient perspective, it is important for government leaders to recognize their responsibility to balance the freedoms of all persons with a need to protect citizens from fraud and other negative influences. However, with respect to behavioral outcomes, it is necessary to ensure that leaders provide information that will educate the general public but will not go so far as to influence how they act on a daily basis with respect to their behaviors. This would take the process a step too far and could compromise the level of trust that individuals have in their own health. Therefore, a delicate balance must be achieved that will support this balance as best as possible to meet the needs of concerned citizens and support their long-term health needs at the appropriate level. It is important to identify the key principles of government-based knowledge and resources in order to effectively manage the general healthcare needs of the population.

The government should not be responsible for regulating the daily activities and decisions of individuals throughout society with respect to their health, as this presents an intrusive point of view that may not be supported by the masses. Governments should not interfere with the decision-making of individuals regarding their health; however, they should provide information in a general context that may have an impact on personal health in different ways. It is likely that many persons believe that their personal beliefs and freedoms have been impacted by the interference of governments in their own decision-making with respect to healthcare; therefore, the perception of many people must be examined more closely in this regard. The healthcare system in the United States continues to increase in scope, and it is believed that its overall framework is influencing how some persons behave and influence their own health, an objective which is difficult to accept by many standards (Ruger, 2012).

One area of consideration in which government practices are supported is public health, whereby policies have been established that frame the decisions of many individuals, even though they should exercise control over their daily activities (Choksi & Stine, 2013). Nonetheless, public health policies should govern some of the resources that are available to individuals and communities with respect to healthcare screenings, testing, and other needs that may influence decision-making, while not serving as an intrusive force in this process (Choksi & Stine, 2013). There must be a greater emphasis on strategies to examine public health in a comprehensive context and not on the specific behaviors of individuals in their daily lives, as this may cross the line into intrusive behavior that may impact health in a negative manner, even if the intent is positive (Choksi & Stine, 2013). Government influence should go so far as to establish policies, but not to intervene in the daily decision-making of individuals, as this is not an appropriate use of resources.

In an area such as vaccine development, for example, it is important for governments to advise regarding the use of vaccinations in children and adults for public health purposes and to provide justification regarding the benefits of these vaccines; however, it is not the government’s place to mandate vaccinations, as some individuals and families may have cultural beliefs or religious restrictions that may prohibit the administration of vaccines (Schwartz, 2012). As a result, it is necessary for government influence to serve in an oversight role rather than to dictate what individuals can and cannot do within their personal lives (Schwartz, 2012). These factors support the development of government oversight that will contribute to meaningful results, rather than to negatively influence individuals and communities in a manner that will have lasting negative consequences. The impact of government influence must be proactive in nature and not create a chain reaction of negative influence that could contribute to mistrust and lack of support for the common good of the people. This may translated into other areas and may impact the relationship between individuals and the government in other areas.

Conclusion

The role of the government in healthcare practice must be considered as part of a larger framework in addressing the needs of the individuals who require these services. It is important for government influence to serve in an oversight role rather than to impact how individuals conduct their daily lives and the behaviors in which they participate. If individuals experience negative conditions with respect to their healthcare needs due to government involvement, this may pose a threat to the trust that they have within this institution. As a result, government influence must be controlled and optimized so that individuals are able to continue to trust in their government and achieve the desired goals and objectives without significant complications and other limitations.

References

Choksi, D.A., & Stine, N.W. (2013). Reconsidering the politics of public health. Journal of the American Medical Association, 310(10), 1025-1026.

Ruger, T.W. (2012). Of icebergs and glaciers: the submerged constitution of American healthcare. Law & Contemporary Problems, 75, 215.

Schwartz, J.L. (2012). New media, old messages: themes in the history of vaccine hesitancy and refusal. Virtual Mentor, 14(1), 50.