Healthcare Management
9587Discussion post response
Healthcare reform in the United States has been a hot topic for everyone involved for decades. From the White House to the large business units that rely on health care to sustain their livelihood, differing opinions go head-to-head to limit the progress of providing affordable, world-class healthcare for all Americans. Primary challenges that have reduced medical reform are economic and political.
Healthcare reform would benefit almost every American, especially the low-income population and many pre-existing conditions. The group that does not want reform is the lobbyists for the special interest groups and the giant healthcare companies. “A number of well-financed, tightly organized health care industries and trade associations fear what they could lose. Despite concessions to keep them engaged as supporters, in the end, they are now using their influence and affluence to derail reform.” (Walling, 2011) Companies that have a lot to lose with a reduction in healthcare costs will flex their muscles to prevent or alter the outcome to their liking. To put this into context, the battle over the Affordable Care Act (ACA) generated $1.2 billion in lobbying in 2009.
The three-headed monster that limits reform is access, affordability, and equity. In 2016 we hit that 8.9 % of the United States population was uninsured. This was a significant milestone, and all came from the ACA’s inception. Now that population has risen again and is expected to reach 10.6 % by 2028. Our healthcare is not cheap, and it continues to skyrocket. After the ACA started, costs went down; now, they are rising. “The consequences of this acceleration are well established and include a growing national debt; strained federal, state, and local budgets; stagnant wages; and increased financial insecurity for Americans.” (Shrank & Anne-De-Parle, 2021) The pandemic showed us how healthcare reform had not passed the equity exam. Many of the substantial losses came at the expense of our vulnerable, underserved areas. These three topics are related, and while increasing access to healthcare, you improve the health equity to many. In contrast, by increasing access, you also increase costs, which reduces the affordability of healthcare.
We all deserve healthcare, and many industrialized nations have figured it out. The Federal government tries to champion healthcare reform, with each party supporting very different agendas on what reform looks like. No one is willing to cross the party line for fear of losing votes or the opportunity to advance. “Despite broad and deep public support for reform, and despite numerous bipartisan agreements and compromises in the bills, legislators continue to fall into the usual and comfortable circles of partisanship.” (Walling, 2011)
References:
Shrank, W. H., & Anne-De-Parle, N. (2021, January 21). Health costs and financing: Challenges and strategies for a new administration: Health Affairs Journal. Health Affairs. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01560
Walling, L. H. (2011, May 25). Why is health care reform so difficult? HuffPost. Retrieved March 9, 2022, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-is-health-care-reform_b_486100
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