For the most part, Americans receive high quality health care services everyday, but there is always that risk that someone will not receive the best quality in their healthcare services (medical errors, patients receive care that they don’t need; patients receive wrong type of care). The truth is Quality of healthcare services depends on where you live, who you are, and how much is known about treating your condition. Some believe that we as Americans are not receiving the quality we should be for as much as we are paying. The U.S. spends more than twice as much on each person compared with most other industrialized nations; we're in last place when it comes to preventing deaths through appropriate medical care. Although there are many people without access to healthcare, for the ones who are able to access healthcare cost and quality varies dramatically. The US spends more of our healthcare dollars on administrative costs, or about 7.5 percent, than other countries, Germany and Switzerland, for example, spend five percent. The Obama-Biden Administration has many plans for the improvement of the cost, quality, and care of the US healthcare system. For one, Under the Obama-Biden Administration there would be improvement in the infrastructure of the existing health care system to reduce inefficiency and waste and improve health care quality using current providers, doctors, and plans. Under four elements: electronic health records, disease prevention and management, increased competition, and catastrophic illness costs, the plan would lower costs in the health care system. For electronic health records the plan would be to computerize the process of creating and maintaining medical records to allow nationalization of information so that records follow patients. Under disease prevention more than 75 percent of health care funding is spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure. Obama-Biden will require all providers who are participating in the plan to follow proven disease management programs. It would also require that providers deliver quality care by promoting patient safety and reducing disparity in health care, reforming medical malpractice while preserving patient rights and requiring full transparency regarding quality and costs. For increased competition Obama-Biden plan to increase competition in the insurance and drug markets. The plan would force insurers to pay out a reasonable share of their premiums for patient care instead of keeping excessive amounts for profits and administration. This would also allow consumers to import safe drugs from other countries and help prevent drug companies from blocking generic drugs from consumers. Under catastrophic illness costs the plan is reimbursing employer health plans for a portion of the catastrophic costs they incur, making health care more affordable for employers and workers and helping them reduce premiums and avoid bankruptcy. American people are too often offered two extremes: government-run health care with higher taxes or letting the insurance companies operate without rules. Obama-Biden believe both of these extremes are wrong, and that’s why they’ve proposed a plan that strengthens employer coverage, makes insurance companies accountable and ensures patient choice of doctor and care without government interference. The Obama-Biden plan provides affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, builds on the existing health care system, and uses existing providers, doctors, and plans. Also, under the Obama-Biden plan, patients will be able to make health care decisions with their doctors, instead of being blocked by insurance company bureaucrats. Some of the above listed are just some of the plans under the Obama-Biden Administration that hopes to lead towards not only better access of healthcare but overall quality of the US healthcare system.
I work in health care and was recruited by Jessica Showen. First, the propsal begins by saying "For the most part, Americans receive high quality health care...", however, by the end of the propsal, one would be led to believe that Americans receive less than mediocre quality health care. Personally, I would look to insurance companies regarding "quality" of care. Health care providers do what we can in a very limited amount of time that patients are covered by their insurance companies. Length of approved stay and/or procedures covered by insurance companies seems to be reducing rapidly, and we can only do a little bit in a short amount of time.
I like the part of the Obama-Biden plan that will make insurance companies put a portion of their profits back to providing care for patients. I was a little more skeptical of the part of their plan that involved "more than 75 percent of health care funding [being] spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure." I'm not sure this would go over well with the general American population because then it seems that in essence the healthy people are paying for the care of the sick people. Usually, most people are not willing to go this route. I am also curious as to how they "will require all providers who are participating in the plan to follow proven disease management programs." Many Americans know that exercise and a good diet are key components to leading a healhthy lifestyle, yet so many of us do not participate in these practices. I am wondering how they will enforce this requirement.
I think that our health care system needs a lot of work. We should be as efficient as possible and using excess money in other problem areas that we are facing right now. The rising chronic health problems need to be dealt with, and I think under Obama-Biden this will be accomplished with more urgency than previous administrations. Our health care costs will continue to rise until we start to fix these chronic diseases.
I like how you explained the Obama-Biden plan. I think many people think this is a great idea, but many other people are not a fan of this. Do you agree with everything in their plan? What exactly would you like to see done?
I highly believe that it is necessary to increase the quality of our health care system. There are many horror stories that come from what happens in hospitals--this is not ok, and will some changes it can be prevented.
However, it's thinking about what is going to get us there? What proposal will make the most change and eventually help decrease cost, increase access and quality.
I work in health care and was recruited by Jessica Showen.
ReplyDeleteFirst, the propsal begins by saying "For the most part, Americans receive high quality health care...", however, by the end of the propsal, one would be led to believe that Americans receive less than mediocre quality health care.
Personally, I would look to insurance companies regarding "quality" of care. Health care providers do what we can in a very limited amount of time that patients are covered by their insurance companies. Length of approved stay and/or procedures covered by insurance companies seems to be reducing rapidly, and we can only do a little bit in a short amount of time.
This is Obama-Biden's plan for reform. What is your plan for reform?
ReplyDeleteI like the part of the Obama-Biden plan that will make insurance companies put a portion of their profits back to providing care for patients. I was a little more skeptical of the part of their plan that involved "more than 75 percent of health care funding [being] spent on patients with one or more chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure." I'm not sure this would go over well with the general American population because then it seems that in essence the healthy people are paying for the care of the sick people. Usually, most people are not willing to go this route. I am also curious as to how they "will require all providers who are participating in the plan to follow proven disease management programs." Many Americans know that exercise and a good diet are key components to leading a healhthy lifestyle, yet so many of us do not participate in these practices. I am wondering how they will enforce this requirement.
ReplyDeleteI think that our health care system needs a lot of work. We should be as efficient as possible and using excess money in other problem areas that we are facing right now. The rising chronic health problems need to be dealt with, and I think under Obama-Biden this will be accomplished with more urgency than previous administrations. Our health care costs will continue to rise until we start to fix these chronic diseases.
ReplyDeleteI like how you explained the Obama-Biden plan. I think many people think this is a great idea, but many other people are not a fan of this. Do you agree with everything in their plan? What exactly would you like to see done?
ReplyDeleteI highly believe that it is necessary to increase the quality of our health care system. There are many horror stories that come from what happens in hospitals--this is not ok, and will some changes it can be prevented.
ReplyDeleteHowever, it's thinking about what is going to get us there? What proposal will make the most change and eventually help decrease cost, increase access and quality.