Current and Future State of Health Care Legislation Analysis - Essay Example

? Current and Future of Health Care Legislation Current and Future of Health Care Legislation The health care sector in America is going through many challenges in the modern world. These challenges stem from insurance covers, to cost containment, and lack of stability in the public sector. The current uncertainty in the financial and regulatory environment creates an enormous problem for the health care system (Battistella, 2010). The problem of cost containment is trickling down to the health care consumer, and it is a problem many individuals feel is pressing down their necks. Health care is among the most crucial public service fields in the world. Today, these problems need addressing for there to be a certain future about the complexities of health care and health care delivery. Americans should be given the autonomy of choice with regards to health care. The dignity and sovereignty of every American that wants to feel protected from a failing health care system can be maintained through this. This paper will examine the recent condition of the health care structure in the U.S., and how decision making can be influenced in the same sector. How is the current health care environment in the U.S.? Currently, the U.S. health care environment is taking a toll on health care consumers. They have to put up with increasing medical costs that do not necessarily make sense to them. The populous states have issues with the mode in which the health care structure is managed. This is because they think that the core business of most health care providers is to make a profit out of vulnerable individuals (Battistella, 2010). Everyone has to face the fact that, medical insurance companies are making a killing out of innocent people. People with not a lot of capital to throw around and they are the vast majority. They are the insurance companies own cash cow, which intend to capitalise as much as they want. It, the health care environment, is failing and is now focused on survival. Many health care providers are trying to bring in new products and services to ensure they stay afloat in this sinking system. The introduction of these products and services means that, people are likely to pay more for things that are not necessarily out to benefit them (Battistella, 2010). New drugs with adverse side effects are brought into the market. Their approval is because someone must be paying an enormous amount of money to see their drug get through the market. This leads to another problem since corruption becomes rampant in this field while health care consumers become innocent victims. Greed is the cause of all this because nobody does it in the name of science. Another current affair in the health care environment is the upgrade in technology. Many private and public health care institutions have taken the time to advance in technology that helps in saving people’s lives. It may cost the organizations lots of capital, but the fruits of such investments are seen after some time. However, an upgrade in technology means that the health care consumer will have to pay more for services rendered. This puts the consumers at a particularly precarious position because they should have back-up from their government (Derickson, 2005). This is when it comes to matters concerning their health care. To protect consumers from such situations, the government regulates policies by insurance companies on health care consumers. However, not all is lost in this environment. Organizations are implementing strategies that assist in reducing the burden placed on health care consumers. By reducing back-office costs, health care providers are spending less capital in their organizations. At the same time, they offer better service levels to the consumers. They advocate for lower labour costs which ensure they spend a little less on manpower, but ensure that consumers get the best services they offer (Derickson, 2005). One can argue that less money spent on manpower is equal to spending even lesser amounts on consumers. This may not necessarily be true. One can offer exceptional services with staff that is keen on serving the people, rather than one overpaid and not interested in the task at hand. The new health care environment in the U.S Presently, there are many issues surrounding the environment in the United States. Health care spending is an issue that has many groups up in arms. Health care consumers believe that a lot of capital is spent on health care, but they do not get to see where or how it is spent. Taxpayers believe that the money is misappropriated, and does not seem to achieve the main aim of providing people with health cover (Pipes, 2010). In America, there is a poor and ineffective health care system. This is what many people say, and many more tend to agree. The stressed health care system is creating challenges for reforms in health care. The financial strain is causing the sector to incur extra costs from the national budget, which at the moment, the country does not have. Supplementary funds are pushed into the system to bail out the gigantic costs incurred, but it is still not helping. One such reform in the United States is the Obamacare reform. This reform offers many incentives to the people of the U.S. with regards to health care (Derickson, 2005). Sadly, not many individuals are enthusiastic about this reform. They think that it offers the government a lot of control over personal health care. This is the problem that arises with the reforms and policies that are implemented today in the U.S. The U.S. is in the stages of privatizing some health care sectors. This means that, some insurance companies are at liberty to offer citizens different health insurance policies. Citizens then have an assortment to pick from, depending on what they think best suits their financial situation. Citizens can, therefore, decide to choose from their primary caregivers; to the medical insurance cover they want (Derickson, 2005). The problem that arises with the new health care environment is the enormous figure of folks in the close settings. States in America do not have proper medical cover for their citizens. This implies that, the more people with medical cover, the more capital the state is likely to spend. These issues need addressing for there to be a certain future in health care in the U.S (Gunnar, 2007). Comparison with other countries’ health care environment In the United States, the problem of medical cover is still rife among its citizens. As a well-developed country, the citizens do not understand or comprehend why the country does not offer them universal health care. Canada, a well-developed country, offers its citizens universal cover. Their medical needs are covered on the basis of them being citizens of that region (Derickson, 2005). Emergency services are available to everyone in Canada regardless of the situation at hand. In the U.S., however, there are policies and procedures to follow in case of medical emergencies. They restrict the provision of medical assistance to persons without medical insurance, and that is one stark difference from any other health care system. In the Czech Republic, the availability of emergency response teams is reflected as stride in the right path for health care. In the U.S., there is also medical response to emergencies. However, once in hospital, the issues of medical cover come into play such that, the patient cannot get medical attention if they failed to pay a month’s fee of medical cover. For a first world country, this is just wrong (Derickson, 2005). Many minority groups are affected with such policies. Native Americans are so left out that they have their own Indian organizations that cater to their medical needs. How the change would impact a manager’s mode of operation As a manager in the health care system, it would be next to impossible to neglect the changes taking place around me. It would be wrong to ignore the fact that, many people are suffering due to wrong health care decisions, and do nothing. As a manager, it would be crucial to understand the plight of many of these individuals, and where they are in terms of finances. Not everyone has the capability of working a white collar job that has a fixed amount of money (Gunnar, 2007). Such understanding can be the difference between life and death in some cases. I would insist on advocating for the rights of people in the place I am located. This can work if I start programs that educate people on issues they face, and their rights as citizens of one of the supreme nations in the world. This education can go a long way in helping people deal with insurance companies; policies implemented, and fragments of apprehension with regards to health care (Battistella, 2010). In conclusion, people need to understand the changing health care environment in the U.S. This can assist them in understanding the policies in place that intend to help them with medical issues in their lives. Once they understand; they may be better positioned to address the matters that come with this public sector. They can forge a way forward instead of depending on the administration to do everything. The situation presently can be salvaged. However, it may take time before the people get to see the benefits of properly thought of and well implemented health care policies. References Battistella, R. M. (2010). Health care turning point: Why single payer won’t work. New York: Cambridge University Press. Derickson, A. (2005). Health security for all: Dreams of universal health care in America. London: Sage Publishers. Gunnar, R. A. (2007). Health care politics, policy, and services: A social justice analysis. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Pipes, S. C. (2010). The truth about Obamacare. New York: Free Press. Read More