Health Care Spending Discussion
Health Care Spending
The continued growth of the healthcare industry gives hope for better services and improved health care (Nickitas, 2013). As the range of services develops, it also increased the cost to the patient (Dickinson, Bulley, & Oliver, 2014). According to Marquis and Huston (2012) in the mid-1960s two of federally sponsored health insurances are Medicare and Medicaid that provides health care program for the citizens. Medicare is for ages above 65 years old with chronic illness, while Medicaid is a combination of federal-state cooperative health insurance for citizens that are financially challenged to meet their health care needs (p. 216). This discussion aims to assess the consequences to the payers and providers of continuing current levels of health care expenses and which among the stakeholders should make health care decisions.
The growing population needs more available and trained health care provider to provide the best care for the patient. The practice of visiting a hospital for every health condition is now transitioning to urgent care which is more accessible and available for the patient. Hospitals and clinics are designed to treat patient’s health condition, but if we are not rendering the appropriate care, the patient tends to have complications that could lead for readmissions, the patient will spend and pay more to their health insurance. It is significant for the patient to have available information to make choices and decisions for his own health. Reliable information of its cost, comparison of several treatments, as well as its side effects can improve efficiency and effectiveness of health care (Nickitas, 2013).
References
Dickson, J. K., Bulley, S., & Oliver, D. (2014). Efficiency and perceptions of cost in healthcare. British Journal of Healthcare Management, 20(5), 222-226.
Marquis, B. L., & Huston, C. J. (2012). Leadership roles and management functions in Nursing: Theory and application (7th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
Nickitas, D. (2013). Healthcare spending: The cold, hard facts of cost, quality, and care. Nursing Economics, 31(1)