A review of the literature relevant to access to care, quality of care and funding for HIV and AIDS patients.

Written in 2002; 9,674 words; 51 sources; MLA; $ 197.95

The difficulty of HIV/AIDS patients in acquiring adequate and equitable health care coverage is examined. The specific problem that is investigated concerns variations between HIV/AIDS patients and non HIV/AIDS patients in relation to denial of coverage, premium levels and experimental drug approval. A thorough review of published literature from different fields is conducted in support of this study. This literature is categorized, analyzed and collected as a unified body. Conclusions about the meaning of the various reviewed studies are presented. The primary conclusions of this study are the needs for portability and true universality in health care for all, as well as guarantees that expensive and experimental treatments will be covered. The writer explains that such changes would benefit not only HIV/AIDS patients, but all Americans as well.

Abstract
The Problem
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Purpose to the Study
Importance of the Study
Scope of the Study
Review of the Literature
Access to Care for HIV/AIDS Patients
Bioethical Issues
Social Psychological Influences
Effects of Managed Care on Health Care Access for HIV/AIDS Patients
Quality of Care Received by HIV/AIDS Patients
HIV/AIDS Funding
Conclusion
References

"A critical factor affecting access to necessary health care for HIV/AIDS patients is health care insurance coverage. Approximately 60-percent of the American population is covered by private health care insurance programs (Congressional Budget Office, 1999). Most of these programs"the very great majority"are either fully or partly funded by employers, while the remainder of such programs is funded fully by the covered individuals and families. For the remaining 40 percent of the population, the delivery of health care services is dealt with in a variety of ways, as follows: (1) for approximately 25 percent of the population, health care services are funded by the federal government, primarily through the Medicaid and Medicare programs; (2) approximately five-percent of the population, both individuals and families, who for whatever reason do not choose to contract for health care insurance, are in the financial position to pay for health care services at the time of delivery; and (3) approximately 10 percent of the population defer health care services to the point where they can non longer be deferred, at which time they typically enter the health care system as emergency patients (Congressional Budget Office, 1999). As emergency patients, their care is more expensive than it would have been if treated earlier, and the care is either (1) paid by government or charity or (2) results in charges to the patients and their families that they seldom have any hope of ever paying. In the latter case, caregivers, typically public hospitals, must absorb the losses. "

Tags: welfare, disease, drug, medical

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