Chapter 5 and 6 gave us great insight into business of the healthcare industry and the reality of some of the decisions that are made. Chapter 5 discussed the extent to which the government regulates the healthcare system here in the United States. From the text, it is clear that private/public nature of the healthcare system must be preserved despite the government’s extensive involvement in health and healthcare in the United States. Through the establishment of the licensing laws, the government is able to provide the healthcare system its foundation and sets the standard for its regulations. The American government controls the funding of our healthcare system and the requirements regarding the quality of care that is delivered. In addition, government plays crucial role in moving the field of health sciences forward and providing adequate care to underserved populations throughout the country. One ideal that certainly caught my interest during this chapter is just the impact that government has on healthcare and the access that American citizens have to it. A huge milestone that changed our healthcare system was the passing of the Affordable Care Act which drastically reduced the number of insured Americans. In essence, the ACA has done its job and certainly reduced the health disparities gap in this country, but due to bipartisan conflicts, we were unable to build that and continue to improve an effort that has had such a positive effect on the health of our citizens. Even though our government plays a major role in our healthcare system, sometimes it becomes obvious that political strike can delay or prevent major progress from being made. When compared to other industrialized countries, it is fair to say the American government has failed to capitalize where other first world countries have been successful at maintaining their healthcare system.
Chapter 6 discusses the amount of capital the United States spending on their healthcare system and their resources. On a gross and per capita basis, the United States spends more money on healthcare than any other nation in the world. The United States has what some would describe as an intricate financial and payment system. It is observed that massive volumes of manpower, paper and computer space are consumed to keep track of the healthcare payment system. In this chapter, it is emphasized that despite the capital that is being spent on our healthcare system and the passing of the Affordable Care Act, there are still way too many Americans in our country that do not have medical coverage. Due to the lack of coverage and the high administrative costs of receiving healthcare, it deters many groups of Americans from receiving proper preventative care and treatment. The lack of coverage also has several unpleasant effects, such as personal stress regarding their healthcare, an uptick in emergency room visits and rising rates of bankruptcy. Even though I have health coverage through my job, sometimes it bewilders my mind how much I am still responsible for, even after my insurance covers its portion.
These chapters continue to stress the idea the healthcare industry is a business at the core in this country. Even though it should be an institution that is fueled by empathy and compassion, which in many aspects it is, it is still driven by money and capital. One of the more frustrating things about the current state of healthcare in the United States is there are other countries who deliver healthcare in a more sustainable fashion. Our industrialized peers have not only constructed a more effective healthcare system, but they’re doing it not driven by capital and with less of it as well.
Good afternoon Joshua,
I love the last paragraph you wrote. That it seems the United States of America uses healthcare as a business verse public health that should be fueled by empathy and compassion. It is evident that the Unites States lacks that right now in more than one way.
We lack empathy and compassion for each other and that is what fuels the fire. Why should that person have that if I don’t? If that business is charging this, why can’t I charge that but even more? The difference between a private good and public good is nothing if everyone does what they want anyway? The more help we need from the government, they more they are going to want to control. Then the more people that don’t trust the government, are they going to even listen?
In the PBS blog they discussed that citizens just accepted that they needed to have insurance, no one forced them they listened. I know the United State would not do that.
-Holly
Hi Joshua,
I enjoyed reading your post. You really hit the main points of the chapters emphasizing the business of healthcare in America. Similar to the PBS film, it was interesting to hear about the ACA and how much it changed healthcare for US citizens. As you mentioned, large proportion of people became insured, however there are still efforts that should be made in expanding it even more for the protection of health of more people. It is very interesting, and frustrating how politics interfere with healthcare expansion and maintenance in the US. Having a bipartisan system has greatly affected the healthcare system, and has for sure prevented having universal healthcare. The even more interesting part is the amount of money spent on healthcare compared to other countries, yet the US still being considered as having the least effective healthcare system. I believe that the government should direct with more empathy rather than be driven by politics and money when peoples lives are literally at stake, and some populations being more vulnerable than others. You would think the US would adopt a similar system to Canada, or even Australia to create a universal system for all. I do hope for change, and at the minimum, expansion of the ACA.
Sadly you are correct, America has been unsuccessful at maintaining our healthcare system unlike other first world countries. It’s entirely too political. I agree that the lack of coverage and high costs of receiving healthcare deters many Americans from receiving proper care. I believe if health insurance was more affordable, more people would receive preventive care and health care in general. In turn, we would not spend as much on health care as we would be healthier and not require specialized care. But maybe that’s the point? As you stated in your last paragraph, healthcare is a business. One that seems to be focused on gain rather than empathy and compassion.