Nursing Healthcare and Policy-Cost and Quality of Healthcare Essay

Discussion–—choose 1 of the 2 following topics 550 words 2-3 sources •Topic 1: Discuss two major reasons why health care costs are so high in the United States and recommend at least two public policies to control health care costs. Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted, proposed by others, and/or ones that you would propose OR •Topic 2: Discuss at least two major reasons why health outcomes are poor in the United States compared to other first-world countries and recommend at least two public policies to improve health care quality. Make clear in your entry if they are policies already adopted, proposed by others, and/or ones that you would propose.

The costs of healthcare in the United States are very high relative to other countries, and such costs are projected to continue increasing. This trend would worsen the increasing debt of the country, which is especially troubling as it does not contribute to improved quality of care. High healthcare expenses can also impede attempts to avert public health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic because individuals cannot afford to pay for examinations or treatment. This paper seeks to discuss major reasons behind the high health care costs and recommend public policies that can assist in controlling healthcare costs. Nursing Healthcare and Policy-Cost and Quality of Healthcare Essay.

Reasons behind High Costs

Healthcare costs may typically be considered a measure of the price (money paid for healthcare services and usage (the number of services utilized). Many fundamental forces can raise prices and usage, thus increasing healthcare spending. Among the most critical reasons include rising healthcare prices and an aging population.

Rising Healthcare Prices

Prices are a huge component of healthcare expenditures in the United States; the costs of healthcare services has risen higher than the costs of most commercial products and services. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) has expanded at an estimate of 2% yearly over the last 20 years, whereas the CPI for healthcare has expanded at around 3.6% yearly (Bindman, 2020). There are several potential causes for this spike in healthcare prices, including hospital expansion, the nature of the U.S. healthcare system, and the advent of modern, advanced healthcare technologies.

An Aging Population

Persons aged 65 and older made up 16% of the United States population in 2018. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that by 2030 this number will surpass 20%. Given that individuals aged 65 and above spend more on healthcare compared to other age groups, with time, the rise in the number of elderly people is projected to increase overall healthcare costs (Ogura & Jakovljevic, 2018).

In addition, as people reach 65 years of age, they become eligible for Medicare. Consequently, the number of Medicare enrolments is projected to rise to 75 million by 2028 from 60 million in 2018 (Pgpf.org, n.d). This growth in coverage is projected to drastically raise Medicare costs over the years.

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Public Policies to Control High Healthcare Costs

One of the most possible public policy choices for achieving the highest cost savings is one that decreases the unnecessary, inefficient, and redundant use of resources (such as technology that does not enhance medical care) and promotes clinically efficient treatment based on comparative quality analysis and information technology deployment. Nursing Healthcare and Policy-Cost and Quality of Healthcare Essay.  This can be accomplished through several methods including assessing costs and advantages before emerging medical technology is approved to come to market, ensuring coverage choices demonstrate proof of feasibility, creating incentives to promote patient engagement without undermining required treatment, and promoting joint decision-making.

Another policy option would be one that guarantees the services are priced correctly. This requires an empirical review to identify and resolve the unacceptable regional cost and pricing differences. Additionally, the national government should also consider using its bargaining ability to negotiate the prices of medicines covered by public insurance. The consistency of the underlying value for the doctor’s services can also be improved.

These policies are policies that I would propose and if implemented, they will play a major role in solving the high costs of healthcare in the United States. 

References

Bindman, A. B. (2020). Rising Prices and Health Care “Empires”. Jama, 323(9), 815-816.

Ogura, S., & Jakovljevic, M. M. (2018). Global population aging-health care, social and economic consequences. Frontiers in public health, 6, 335.

Why are Americans paying more for healthcare? (n.d.). https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2020/04/why-are-americans-paying-more-for-healthcare . Nursing Healthcare and Policy-Cost and Quality of Healthcare Essay.