Abstract This paper details the current crisis concerning healthcare and healthcosts as well as public and government concern regarding health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and "regular" hospitals. The writer of this paper delves into the escalating cost of healthcare due to advancing technology and pharmaceutical research. This paper also discusses the services and care offered by both health institutions.
Topics covered in this paper include:
Cost of Care Technology as a Cost-Increasing Factor
Costs of Maintaining a Traditional Hospital
HMOs as Profit Centers
Care Traditional Hospital Care Conclusion
Works Referenced
From the Paper "America's population is aging. We live longer, but therefore we require more hospital stays or medication than generations before us. The largest insurer of the aging is the government, through Medicare and Medicaid. Knowing the shortfall of income for future Medicare recipients, the government has been reducing, even curtailing some of the items, drugs, and illnesses for which it will pay the entire cost. Without such reimbursement, the for-profit HMOs are reducing the list of their clientele."
Abstract The paper examines how it has become important to attempt to curb public spending for healthcare, while maintaining quality of care and service. The writer proposes that providing the consumer with greater control in the field of healthcare decision making, is one way to control public spending. This manifests itself in consumer-directed healthcare (CDHC). The paper discusses how one can already see the benefits of CDHC, but these benefits are seen mainly among the wealthy. The paper concludes that extending these benefits to all, wealthy and poor, will reduce healthcosts and therefore, public spending.
Outline:
(1) Nature of the Issue
(2) Political and Social Impacts/Implications
(3) Policy
(4) Budget
(5) Conclusion
From the Paper "Lower prices and higher quality are two of the concrete benefits of CDHC. Herrick (2006) for example states that physicians are seeking alternatives to high overhead and low reimbursements. In order to alleviate this problem, associations have been formed to keep the consumer informed of the price differences between services. Other associations, as mentioned above, offer cash options for incidental needs, thus cutting their billing costs, resulting in an ability to offer lower fees to their patients."
Abstract The paper looks at the introduction of Medicare and Medicaid, managed care and cost controls that have been utilized to lower healthcare costs. The paper argues that in order to achieve improved performance, the US needs to implement more effective strategies to measure health outcomes, ensure a higher degree of price sensitivity among purchasers and correct its administrative efficiencies. The paper maintains that the focus of legislators needs to be upon health as a value and on health priorities rather than on fragmented strategies for controlling healthcare costs. The paper includes graphs of Medicare and Medicaid statistics.
From the Paper "The central problem with the US healthcare system appears to be related to perspective. Efforts to control costs have predominated over the delivery of quality health care. The goal of limiting government and private expenditures for health care while improving health outcomes results in health care productivity being a significant policy issue not only in the United States but across the globe. Although productivity is only one aspect of the performance of any health care system, improvements in productivity can make it easier to achieve other health system goals, such as greater access to care and protection from the financial losses resulting from ill health. Ever since the mid-1970s, the US healthcare system has been troubled with three major concerns: quality, costs and access (Odom & Garcia, 2005)."
Tags: malpractice, suits, managed, care, Medicare, Medicaid
Abstract The paper examines the positive and negative aspects of nursing home care versus assisted living care in terms of care, health, quality of life and costs involved. The paper discusses how making sure that the appropriate level of care is provided should be the foremost concern when making this very critical decision for oneself or for another member of one's family.
Outline:
Objective
Health and Safety
Review of Literature
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the first of the many important considerations at this juncture in the life of an individual of advanced age is the health and safety of that individual. While it is optimal to have a living arrangement that allows the most freedom, independence and autonomy possible, the individual's health both physically and mentally must be the first and foremost consideration. In the case that the individual has Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's disease, assisted living may allow too much autonomy and therefore not be in the best interest of the elderly person. However, in the case of only mild forgetfulness assisted living offers an arrangement that includes the best of both worlds."
Tags: autonomy, freedom, security, health, costs, quality, of, life
Abstract This paper looks at the consequences for the American healthcare system of managed care programs, the primary goals of managed care programs as seen from the healthcare service providers, and the recipients of managed care programs. The paper also looks at some the inherent ethical contradictions in managed care systems and whether patients can actually be assured quality healthcare if the cost of that care is the primary consideration.
From the Paper "Whether we like it or not, managed care is a reality in the United States. Its existence is causing an axiomatic restructuring at all levels of the American health care system. HMO's (Health Maintenance Organizations), PPO's (Preferred Provider Organizations), and physician-hospital organizations have become essential to our current health care delivery system. (Phoon et al., 1996) As the trend in health care continues to move away from traditional plans, it is imperative that we focus on the validity of quality in the managed care system."
Abstract This paper explores the National Health Service (N.H.S.) in the United Kingdom. In this study, the writer claims that the N.H.S. is in crisis. The writer explains that this crisis results from extensive progress in the field of medicine, together with high expectations of the N.H.S. to offer top healthcare, at no cost to the individual patient. In addition, this paper explores the quality of management within the N.H.S.
From the Paper "The N.H.S. has been in existence for many years. Each successive government has tried to reform the system in order to make it more efficient and effective. The N.H.S. is in crisis and the crisis results from the extraordinary advances in medical science, combined with expectations that the NHS will provide the finest health care anywhere at no cost to the patient. This paper explores how rationing reduces the quality of health care and the alternatives to rationing."
Tags: Quality of management in National Health Service United Kingdom. Quality, HealthCare, Rationing, National Health Service, NIH, Rationing, Private healthcare providers, Managed Care, Commodity.
Abstract This paper presents an assessment of the economics of healthcarecosts. The paper argues that the problem is a complex maze of related issues such as funding mechanisms, delivery structures and individual responsibility. Additionally, the paper recommends a national healthcare system for managing family healthcarecosts that is based on universal access to healthcare.
From the Paper "Health care economics is entering another state of turmoil in the United States as the moderating effects of the managed care concept on increasing health care costs appears to have run its course. The Congress and state governments believed the promises of managed care proponents that managed care would lower health care costs dramatically and are resisting rapid increases in health care costs. Managed care companies are responding by dropping governmentally-funded patient groups including Medicare and Medicaid raising charges to..."
Abstract This paper discusses the issue of rising healthcarecosts in the United States, and relates the issue to the government, business, and healthcare industries. The paper further looks into these organization's roles in halting rising healthcarecosts, and discusses professional opinions in relation to the matter. The addition of technology and its affects on healthcare are also discussed.
From the Paper "In the United States there are many poor, aging, and young who have traditionally been without health insurance due to the rising costs associated with care. When society considers those entities that should play a significant role in reducing health care costs the organizational elements of government, industry, and health care providers them selves are logical considerations. Yet, while the United States patiently waits for some type of health care cost relief there does not appear to be any notable action being taken to reduce these costs. During the December 2002 online discussion posted on NewsHour, with Jim Lehrer, the issue of health care costs was discussed in relation to insurance providers, hospitals, and health care workers. Lehrer spoke with many professionals in these organizations, and discovered that there are primary causes for the rise in health care costs in the United States. "
Abstract The paper reveals that the US healthcare system is currently in crisis mode because of rising costs, problems related to cost containment, inefficiency and the numbers of uninsured and under-insured patients increasing each year. The paper maintains that the only viable solution to this crisis is to provide all US citizens with some form of health insurance and to work towards a transformation of the system.
Outline:
Introduction
HealthCare in Crisis Mode
Inefficiency and Injustice
High Costs Managed Care Innovative Approaches
Insurance Crisis
Quality of Care Proposed Solutions
From the Paper "Currently, concerns about the escalating costs of health care and the lack of accessibility are being voiced by health care consumers, employers and other stakeholders. "According to the Institute of Medicine, over 44 million Americans are without some form of health insurance" (Odom R1). These escalating costs, as well as the dire problem of the uninsured, indicates that the health care industry in at the brink of a national healthcare crisis. Healthcare costs and financial problems can cause health organizations' legitimacy to be questioned. In a number of cases, the organization survived only because it was recognized that "the governance of community health organizations is critical to their survival, especially during times of crisis" (Savage 384)."
Tags:costs, inefficiencies, accessibility, managed, care, insurance, reform
Abstract This paper stresses that basic premise of ethical healthcare is to make sure everyone has an opportunity to be treated, to have his illness cured if possible and not to leave the patient and his family with a huge financial burden. The author points out that, while individuals may complain about the rising costs of healthcare, it is the shouting of large corporations, who are paying a share of these costs through employee programs, that has alerted the public and government regulators to the high price of health provision. The paper contends that, although many experts may agree that the problem is "market-driven healthcare", the facts are (1) that it is nearly impossible for a patient to "compare" services and (2) the traditional hospital survive through donations and gifts from philanthropists, while the managed-care facilities must operate on a for-profit basis.
From the Paper "Technology is supposed to reduce the cost by increasing efficiencies. However, many of the traditional hospitals have become so enamored with some of the new technological and surgical machinery and instrumentation that "they have been so pervasively purchased by health care institutions- some of which use them very little that they have increased the costs as well." What has happened is that new technologies, which may include lasers and even plastics, have increased the number of elective surgeries, since the trauma of great pain and lengthy operations and after-care have now been minimized."
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses that a full-scale healthcare benefits crisis appeared to loom as employers were reported to spend $300 billion annually on the health insurance of employees, their dependents and retirees. Further, the writer discusses that healthcare related costs and premiums were expected to adversely affect the U.S. economy and, therefore, these preferred strategies could not continue indefinitely without a proportionate and adverse impact on total employee compensation. The writer looks at how employers act to reduce healthcarecosts.
From the Paper "The mass media, major consulting groups and health care experts agreed that health care costs were a critical or significant concern to the vast majority of chief operating officers, chief human resource officers and other business leaders. As against the estimated 14% increase, employers said they could accommodate only an average annual increase of 9%. This difference meant that employer costs would increase by approximately 54% in the next five years. During that period, employee contributions could increase three times until all the involved parties resorted to some proactive approach to contain the rise. HR leaders agreed that better value and lower health costs at between 83% and 96% if they worked together with employees for this purpose."
Abstract This paper addresses the costs of smoking on society by evaluating the impact on health, the various economic costs attributed to smoking, and the taxation measure utilized to reduce the demand for tobacco. Issues that are addressed include the social costs of smoking, whether smokers cover the smoking-related costs that the rest of the community bears, and whether the average lifetime healthcarecosts of tobacco users is higher than those of non-smokers. It also looks at whether tobacco taxes are an effective measure to reduce the demand for tobacco and reduce healthcarecosts imposed by smokers.
From the Paper "Do smokers cover the smoking-related costs that the rest of the community bears? Typically, these costs are covered by tobacco tax revenues imposed by governments to compensate the public sector, which are borne by the smokers themselves. However, a high percentage of the smoking-attributable costs are borne by private individuals or by business (Collins and Lapsley, 2003). Smokers impose direct health costs on non-smokers, which include irritation and nuisance. There may also be a cost from fires, environmental degradation, and deforestation from tobacco growing and processing, and from the consequences of smoking (Jha and Chaloupka, 1999). Smokers impose physical costs on others as well as possible financial costs. In theory, smokers would smoke less if they took these costs into account, because the socially optimal level of consumption, in which resources are efficiently distributed in society, is reached when all costs are borne by the consumer."
An essay on the rising healthcarecosts associated with moral hazard and why, despite some skepticism, consumer driven health plans (CDHP) can provide a solution.
Abstract The paper discusses Consumer Driven Health Plans (CDHP) and how these plans can reduce medical spending. The paper examines the rising cost of healthcare and how health insurers have developed new and innovative ways of dealing with the ever pressing issue moral hazard has had on overall medical spending. The paper further analyzes how through consumer driven health plans, health insurers hope to encourage more conservative and responsible consumerism as patients are forced to pay higher out of pocket costs for medical services.
From the Paper "Year after year, as the cost of health care continues to rise and the American public's frustration continues to grow, those with influence over the market have begun to offer new and innovative solutions in the hopes of curbing the ever rising prices a broken system has helped to create. In a flawed design where everyone but the consumer is picking up the tab - the employers, health insurers, and government, it's of no surprise that Americans have been more than indulgent in their consumption of medical services. Unfortunately, this careless consumption, driven by moral hazard, is what continues to drive the overall cost of health care up at a rate of inflation higher than that of other goods and services. Now, in an effort to reduce the most costly of effects attributing to the rising cost of medical services, health insurers have focused on reducing moral hazard through the introduction of consumer driven health plans (CDHP)."
Abstract This paper explores all of the myriad and complex causes of the high cost in today's healthcare environment and recommends changes that would be the most likely to positively impact change. Charts and graphs are used to help illustrate important points.
Introduction
Prescription Drugs
Medical Devices and Medical Advances
Rising Provider Expenses
General Inflation
Government Mandates and Regulations
Government Programs and Tax Laws
Increased Consumer Demand
Lack of Consumerism
Litigation and Risk Management
Fraud and Abuse
Managed Care System
Conclusion
From the Paper "Priority Health also believes that the United States government is at fault for not imposing price controls on pharmaceutical products as do most other industrialized nations, thus leading to drugs costs that are as much as one hundred percent higher in this country. Additionally, the United States government imposes regulations for drug distribution and sales that make drugs less readily available and more expensive than in other countries. Also, government granted patents protect drug for up to seventeen years, limiting competition and driving up prices."
Tags:health, care, spending, managed, care, health, insurance, employers, premium
Abstract This nine page undergraduate paper examines future aspects of healthcare from the perspective of healthcare administrators and managers. The writer notes that it is evident that challenges must be overcome, despite the numerous problems presented by historical, social, ethical, technological, and financial factors. The writer points out that at the present time, the healthcare system in the United States is confronting rising costs and undiminished expectations, and the system is in crisis. Further, the writer discusses that controversial issues of socialized medicine, cost shifting, and budget deficits will have to be addressed if needed reforms of the American healthcare system are to be implemented.
From the Paper "In examining future aspects of health care from the perspective of health care administrators and managers, it is evident that they must overcome the numerous challenges presented by historical, social, ethical, technological, and financial factors. At the present time, the health care system in the United States is confronting rising costs and undiminished expectations, and the system is in crisis. Controversial issues of socialized medicine, cost shifting, and budget deficits will have to be addressed if needed reforms of the American health care system are to be implemented. But reforming health care in the United States is contentious because it will affect the level of services and involve tens of millions of beneficiaries and taxpayers."
