Healthcare Factors behind Cost Curve and Supply Curve - Coursework Example

Healthcare Factors behind Cost Curve and Supply Curve Healthcare Factors behind Cost Curve and Supply Curve Introduction Various factors which are unpredictable normally affect the cost curve of healthcare to shift. This has made the healthcare industry unpredicable as these factors change over years. In my research, one of the factors that cause this shift is the readiness of the emergency response department. As we all know, federal hospitals play an important role in disaster management. From the recent attacks by the terrorists and the anthrax scare, hospitals have decided to improve their infrustructure in order to accomodate all these needs.

This leads to additional costs by the healthcare department causing the shift. The recent scare globally is the threat of ebola, which needs special attention from the healthcare providers. Hospitals need to be ready for such emergencies to ensure safety of all citizens in the country.Secondly, affordability of healthcare services to most citizens remains to be a great issue that the federal government seeks to address. The cost of medical care continues to shoot day by day. The amounts allocated in the federal budget every financial year continues to rise despite various interventions to this sector.

From the report that was recently issued by the government, it predicted that the entire spending of this sector will be close to 20 percent of the GDP by the year 2016. Policymakers have largely questioned this because increase costs does not reflect better, and quality services in these hospitals (Hicks, 2014).Further, the sector has vowed to eliminate both racial and ethnic disparities in their institutions. Trainings to all members of staff operating in these hospitals has been enhanced in oder to ensure performance excellence and improved healthcare services to all in the country.

Classmate’s Response: Racheal’s AssignmentI totally agree with her arguments and findings. For instance, with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, every citizen and employee in this industry is expected to have an insurance cover. However, most people who are insured are seeking medical care from these hospitals leading to strain on the available resources. Hence, this directly affects the cost curves. To some extend, people who are insured are normally charged slightly higher in these hospitals.

Another issue that has been addressed in her essay is the number of taskforce operating in rural hospitals in the country. Generally, there is a shortage, and the federal government has to address this issue by employing more staff to work in these hospitals. Most of these hospitals operating in these areas experience a lot of pressure due to a large number of patients who seek help from them. This is acording to the report issued by the American Hospital Association.To address this issue, the federal government has to employ additional staff to work in these hospitals to counter this pressure.

This comes in hand with additional infrustructure to accomodate the large number of patients seeking services from them. Directly, this will lead to increased costs by the healthcare department in the country which the reflects in the gross national product. In the coming years, access to quality healthcare will be very costly to citizens of all economic backgrounds.ReferencesHicks, L. (2014). Economics of Health and Medical Care: 6th edition. Burlington: MA: Jones & Barlett Learning, LLC.