CASE STUDY #1
Positive Impact of Healthcare Reform and Implementation Challenges
The United States has implemented various policies in a bid to reform the healthcare sector. While the country continues to experience some challenges in the implementation of these reforms, there has been some positive impact. According to Obama (2016), policies for health reform such as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) have made great progress in finding solutions to the longstanding problems experienced in the US healthcare sector. The positive impact has been felt in three main areas: access, affordability, and quality. The health reforms have led to the increase in the number of insured persons. The number of uninsured persons reduced to 9.1% in 2015 from 16.0% in 2010 (Obama, 2016). This has made it easier for more people to access health services. More people can now afford health care services. For example, the number of elderly persons who could not afford care reduced by 5.5% (Obama, 2016). To some extent healthcare reforms have made it possible for more people to access care at affordable prices. however, the implantation of healthcare reform in the US still faces some challenges. For instance, the special interests of industry players make it difficult to implement healthcare reform. Take for example the recent proposition that excess Medicare payments should be redirected to offers subsidies for the uninsured (Obama, 2016). Healthcare organizations supported the idea while the pharmaceutical industry was against it to safeguard its profits (Karlin-Smith, 2016). Proper reform is only achievable if all players agree. Political opposition is the other challenge facing US healthcare reform. There is also opposition from a significant portion of the US population. For example, the Republicans were against ACA. Unity is needed to achieve the objectives of the health reforms.
CASE STUDY #2
Problems in the US Healthcare System and Possible Solution
The US healthcare system continues to be problematic despite the existing healthcare policy. Before the country can focus on increasing insurance coverage, it is important to solve the bigger problems that affect the healthcare system. One of these problems is the costly nature of healthcare in the country (Knickman & Kovner, 2014). The United States has the highest healthcare expenditures compared to the rest of the developed countries. Over the recent past, the country has experienced a significant increase in the volume of healthcare services provided, as well as the price of care. In this case, it is necessary for the relevant authorities to find ways of moderating the every-increasing healthcare expenditure. Most effort should be directed to restructuring the delivery and payment of healthcare services to ensure that people receive quality care at affordable rates. The quality of care is also an issue of concern in the US. Thousands of Americans loss their lives every year due to medical errors. The country should consider adopting practices that enhance consumer experience. In addition, there is a high prevalence of lifestyle-related sicknesses in the country ((Knickman & Kovner, 2014). As such, it is counterproductive to push for the increase in insurance coverage when more people are succumbing to preventable diseases. Therefore, it would be helpful for the healthcare sector to establish systems and processes of promoting healthy behavior. Health awareness and disease prevention measures can go a long way in building a healthier population. Enhancing transparency and accountability is also crucial in enhancing the quality of care in the country. The government should deal with these and other issues even as it seeks to expand insurance coverage in the country.
References
Obama B. (2016). United States health care reform: progress to date and next steps. JAMA, 316(5), 525–532. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.9797
Kovner, A. R., & Knickman, J. (2015). Jonas & Kovner’s health care delivery in the United States. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Karlin-Smith, S. (2016, Sept. 5). Pharma unleashes on Part B demo. Politico. Retrieved from https://www.politico.com/tipsheets/prescription-pulse/2016/05/pharma-unleashes-on-part-b-demo-214193
