Healthcare Policy, Org and Finance, Research Paper Example

DQ 1: The US healthcare system is distinctive because 1) patients do not have any level of control over the costs related to their care (Graham, 2012); 2) Medicare is not comprehensive in nature and leaves many gaps in coverage that are difficult to afford (Chua, 2006); 3) Medicaid is not accepted by many insurance providers because of the challenges of obtaining the desired reimbursements (Chua, 2006); 4) Employer-sponsored health insurance plans offer varying degrees of coverage and do not always support the most important coverage needs (Chua, 2006); and 5) Spending on the US healthcare system as a whole is substantially larger than in other countries, leaving much of the burden on consumers (Chua, 2006).

Response to Discussion 1 Mitchel: The healthcare system is complex in nature and must be considered in the context of its level of efficiency and social inequality. However, the challenges of the system go above and beyond cost, as quality of care and preventative medicine are often weak and difficult to sustain, given the complexities of the current environment. Therefore, it is also important to consider the issues that are relevant with respect to promoting knowledge that supports greater quality of care and effective treatment for all persons across all age groups.

Response to Discussion 2 Massy: The healthcare system in the United States demonstrates a number of significant weaknesses that are difficult to overcome without a substantial overhaul of the system. The global rankings of the system demonstrate that there are significant challenges across many critical areas, such as safety and efficiency. Therefore, it is important to identify the tools that are required to achieve greater quality of care for patients across different population groups and income levels. Furthermore, the inequality that exists throughout the healthcare system must be addressed in an effective manner to improve access to healthcare coverage for all persons.

References

Chua, K.P. (2006). Overview of the U.S. health care system. Retrieved from http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCcQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amsa.org%2FAMSA%2FLibraries%2FCommittee_Docs%2FHealthCareSystemOverview.sflb.ashx&ei=n1TkUt6RDs3yoASHnIDgDg&usg=AFQjCNFzbDvto9FEa1hdh5Bm8dz7ohmoOw&sig2=Rj2SHAsRismhwhfNgrGf9w

Graham, J.R. (2012). What is unique about U.S. health care? Lack of patient control of spending. NCPA, retrieved from http://healthblog.ncpa.org/what-is-unique-about-u-s-health-care-lack-of-patient-control-of-spending/