Best Healthcare Practices - Essay Example

? Health Care Paper Introduction The issues related to healthcare of an individual or a group of individuals is considered to be as one of the most widely debated aspects amidst the critics. It has been learnt that the Federal budget of the United States considers all the vital aspects but allots only 2% of the amount for ensuring healthcare of the general public which is raising many questions amidst the citizens of the country (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013; U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d.). The main objective of this paper is to provide a detailed study to highlight the best healthcare practices that are being followed in five major countries in the world, one major health care problem that is being faced by the people of the USA along with the solution provided by the Affordable Care Act. Three of the major components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) would also be provided. The paper would also deliver an explanation of the problems or difficulties that may be faced by the US government while integrating the reforms in the US healthcare context. Discussion Sick Around the World The two best components that can be viewed in the healthcare industry in England is the policy of ‘socialized medicine’ that provides free medical services to people. The amount that is generated is mostly the taxes which are paid by the Britons. The second component is the system of having General Practitioners (GPs), who are paid based on the number of patients they attend. In Japan, the system of ‘social insurance’ is considered to be one of the best components in the healthcare industry as it makes compulsory for every individual to have health insurance by any means necessary. It has also been viewed that a majority of the healthcare units in the country are privately owned which makes the system more efficient. In Germany, the concept of health insurance is considered to be very important. Moreover, there are more than 200 private nonprofit firms are involved in providing health insurance in the major healthcare units from where people can get insured. The best aspect in Taiwan is the policy of a single government-run insurer policy that is one of the most prominent factors in comparison with other four countries. Contextually, Switzerland seems to be having the best components in the healthcare. It has been viewed that 95% of the citizens are voluntary insured after the acceptance of the social insurance policy in 1994 in the country. The government also provides considerable assistance to the remaining 5% for getting insured by suggesting their names to different companies in the country (WGBH Educational Foundation, 2013). Health Reform Hits Main Street With reference to the video i.e. ‘Health Reform Hits Main Street’, one of the major problems with the healthcare system of the United States of America (USA) is the issue related to high cost of healthcare insurance policies. Insurance policies of the country are recognized to be very expensive as compared to other countries. A large number of senior citizens in the country have primarily influenced the government to increase the cost of healthcare along with healthcare insurance policies in the Federal budget. This factor has made it impossible for the government to diversify its broad activities in other sectors. It has also been viewed that people with diseases are not allowed to get insurance which is also a major problem in the economy (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013). The solutions that have been prescribed by the government to mitigate the defined issues are stated hereby. Firstly, the government is planning to issue new policies that would bind private insurance companies to pay a portion of the administrative costs through rebate to the government for public use. The government is also planning to launch its services such as vaccination among others for free of cost that would be a very positive aspect. The government is also planning to provide extra aid to those people who are more than 65 years age. Currently, the government is implementing new insurance policies that allow young people to stay insured with extra pay till the age of 26. The government is also planning to provide tax break for the payment of insurance premiums to the private employees (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2013). Major Components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) Three major components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) are stated hereunder: Quality and Affordable Healthcare for All Americans: In this context, the government is planning to establish a shared responsibility with the private insurance firms. There are various measures that are taken by the government to ensure proper healthcare facilities including providing tax credits for senior citizens and merging of insurance policies with the family members of those citizens who are below 26 years (Democratic Policy and Communications Center, n.d.). Providing Assistance to People Who are Uninsured Because of a Pre-Existing Condition: In this context, the government is planning to set up new healthcare insurance policies for providing an opportunity people with pre-existing problems relating to healthcare (Democratic Policy and Communications Center, n.d.). Require Coverage of Preventive Services and Immunizations: The government is also planning to provide additional facilities to small firms that would lead to effective services (Democratic Policy and Communications Center, n.d.). Integration of Sick People around the World with Major Health Care Reforms in the United States One of the major components that can be described in relation to health care reforms in the United States is the policy of insuring the citizens of the country by way of Voluntary Insurance Policies. In this respect, it can be viewed that the country is adapting new changes that would aim to provide healthcare insurance policies to the masses. The government is also planning to modify the insurance policies which would provide ample opportunities to young adults to get insured by attractive insurance policies. In terms of potential barriers, the policy of voluntary insurance might not be a profitable component in the American context but it has been viewed that a majority of the multinational companies are located in America and the currency value of the country is also very high in comparison with many countries of the world. It is also true that most of the citizens cannot afford insurance policies. Considering the mentioned facts, it can be stated that if the policy of voluntary insurance is applied in the American context then it will eventually lead to the betterment in the overall health of the citizens (Democratic Policy and Communications Center, n.d.; WGBH Educational Foundation, 2013). Conclusion From the above analysis, it has been observed that the current healthcare reforms of the US are being discussed among many critics. The different policies that exist in the country are forcing people to remain uninsured which is resulting in an increase in the demand for improved and affordable healthcare services in the Federal budget. With reference to the above mentioned discussion, it can be concluded that current healthcare scenario is facing significant challenges in the context of US as compared to the other discussed five countries. However, it is apparently observed that the government has started to implement certain new strategies that may improve the healthcare scenario of the country in the near future. References Democratic Policy and Communications Center. (n.d.). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Detailed Summary. pp. 1-16. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2013). Health reform hits main street. Retrieved from http://kff.org/health-reform/video/health-reform-hits-main-street/ U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (n.d.). Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/opa/affordable-care-act/index.html WGBH Educational Foundation. (2013). Five capitalist democracies & how they do it. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sickaroundtheworld/countries/ Read More