Longevity in Modern Health Care, Reaction Paper Example

As a national policy, it is imperative to allocate a set level of resources and apply them to achieving the greatest good for the greatest number of people. Under this model, it will become more likely that people will access resources when they truly need it, instead of requesting resources that aren’t necessary for livelihood. Because we have a finite number of resources available, it is important to prioritize these resources for individuals who have the highest need. If we were to adopt an individualist approach stating that those who can afford resources should have access to them, we would not be able to control health care in a manner that would produce a healthy population.

It is essential to understand that a growing national and world population has many problems associated with it. In particular, there are more individuals living past 65 and there are very few workers available to provide these individuals with personalized assistance or care. For example, there are many positions available for home health aides, but not enough qualified members of the younger population present to fill these roles (Barr, 2011). There is also a significant shortage of beds available for these patients in hospitals during times of emergency. It is therefore necessary for the health care system to determine how to provide aide fairly to these individuals. Providing care to a single person because they have more funds can effectively end the lives of others who need the same resources and are willing to pay less for an assistant or hospital bed. Many actions can be taken both by health care professionals and governmental agencies to ensure that fair care can be provided to all citizens.

The purpose of the Patient Protection Affordable Care Act is to minimize the health care disparity that is observed between low income, middle income, and high income individuals (CCH, 2010). By providing affordable health insurance to all, there will no longer be a need to discriminate against certain patients during decisions regarding who should be provided with health care resources. The Affordable Care Act supports the concept that we should allocate a set level of resources and apply them to achieving the greatest good. The pledge that many health care professionals and politicians offer is the desire to help the many, not the few. These professionals do not have a right to consider some lives more valuable than others. Thus, it is unethical to consider taking steps to contribute to the damaging societal effects that biased health care provision would have. Prior to the Affordable Care Act, more bias was present than we currently have today. However, further action must be taken to enhance the quality of care that all citizens are able to receive.

Accountable Care Organizations are necessary components of the health care system that ensure that individuals that subscribe to Medicare benefits can be provided with high quality health care services. It is important to expand these organizations under the Affordable Care Act due to the increasing number of families that are eligible for government issued insurance. Since low income populations are those who are traditionally unable to afford regular physician visits, they are more likely to enter the hospital with debilitating or chronic disorders, contributing to the likelihood that taxes will need to cover their hospital visits. It is more cost effective to provide these individuals with preventative care to ensure that chronic disorders, such as diabetes, are kept under control. Furthermore, doing so will allow members of low income populations to remain working and eventually, be able to advance themselves past the need to use government funded health care.

Overall, it is important to consider that to achieve a healthy country, we must determine the value that having equal health opportunities for all will bring to our nation. When more people have health coverage, they will be able to lead higher qualities of life because they will not need to be concerned about how they will afford preventative or chronic care (Feldman, 2011). People living in low income communities need the most help because even those who are employed are not able to earn wages that can sufficiently cover their living expenses. Furthermore, health coverage expansion positively benefits the nation in terms of population health. For example, more children and adults will be able to receive necessary vaccines under this model that will help prevent the spread of disease based on the concept of herd immunity. By making individuals healthier, therefore, we are making the full population healthier. To advance ourselves as a society, it is important to hold the basic rights of all people equal. One of these most precious rights is the right to live, which can only be achieved by implementing a fair access to health care. It is beneficial for health care professionals to advocate for populations in need so we can make our population health goals a true reality.

References

Barr, Donald A. (2011). Introduction to U.S. Health Policy: The Organization, Financing, and Delivery of Health Care in America. JHU Press.

CCH. (2010). Law, Explanation and Analysis of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Including Reconciliation Act Impact. CCH Incorporated.

Feldman, Arthur M. (2011). Understanding Health Care Reform: Bridging the Gap Between Myth and Reality. CRC Press.