Healthcare Crisis in United States

BY TALWINDERJIT SINGH

Introduction

Basically healthcare is a part of life and should be a right. 60% of Americans believe in the policy of single payer system as

other nations have. Most of the population are on the side which assumes healthcare

as the responsibility of government. Example.

Healthcare Crisis (Timeline) During the 18th century, people were highly dependent on home

remedies. In 1765, to improve the medical treatments in America,

University of Pennsylvania opened a new school for medical science.

In 1847, American Medical Association (AMA) was established by the union of doctors to regulate the practice of medicine and drugs.

In the leadership of Theodore Roosevelt, in 1906 the labor union in U.S. named American Association of Labor Legislation (AALL) started campaign for health insurance.

In early 20th century, first medical insurance company named Blue Cross.

Timeline continued..

After 1930, the focus changed from stabilizing income to financing medical costs.

Hospital Survey and Construction Act. (1946) was passed to give funds through federal grants to hospitals for construction and modernization.

In 1965, ‘Medicare’ under Title XVIII was an amendment in the law of Social Security Act to cover people over 65 years and disabled people under insurance.

Medicaid (1965) was also an amendment in Social Security Act for providing assistance to the poor population of America.

Timeline continued…

Health Maintenance Organization Act (HMO) (1973) was enacted to make ease avail and accessible healthcare by the way of financial help by federal government and making mandatory for employers to offer HMO options to their employees.

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare), 2010 was the government act to ensure the healthcare coverage of all Americans and to reduce the burden of medical bills on American population.

What’s right?

Prompt emergency care. Finest healthcare system. Advanced medical technology. Research and development of U.S. Waiting time is less. Incentives to pharmaceutical companies to encourage them for

developing new drugs. High survival rates from cancer and chronic diseases.

What’s wrong?

WHO fundamentals (cost, good health, responsiveness, fairness in financing, access to healthcare and satisfaction with the healthcare system ) and U.S. ranked 26th. .

Cost of healthcare and insurance is rising faster than inflation. Number 1 reason for bankruptcies in U.S. Trend of ‘defensive medicine’ is rising. High cost of prescription drugs.

According to Commonwealth report (2011), where fundamentals were (quality, access, efficiency, equity and healthy lives. (Davis, K., Stremikis, K., Squires, D., Schoen, C. 2014).

According to study conducted by ABC News, Kaiser Family Foundation and USA Today, (2006).

Solutions/ recommendations

Single payer. Introducing drug review boards. Reducing length of monopolies to pharmaceutical companies. Mandatory health insurance. Limited number of insurers should be allowed to operate.

Why not free?

Federal government restricts Medicare to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies.

Taxes are already too high. Uninsured population is large. For the sake of research and development U.S. allows

pharmaceutical industry to make money. Lack of drug review boards.

International perspective

Basically, government of other nations interfere in healthcare system and try to keep the costs low.

New Zealand follows policies like nationally negotiated rates of drugs, cost-effective reviews for new drugs.

Universal coverage. Germany have multi-payer healthcare system which allows both

public and private insurers to operate the healthcare. Low administration cost in other developed nations. In France and Japan, they have common fee schedule.

HHS Strategic Plan 2014-2018

strengthening health care. Advancement in scientific knowledge and innovation. Advancement of health status, safety concerns, and well being of

America. And ensuring efficiency, transparency, accountability and

effectiveness of Health & Human Services (HHS).

Thank you