What is your evaluation of the effectiveness of the U.S. health care system in the context of delivery, finance, management, and/or sustainability? What are the issues that prompted a need for health care reform? Support your answer with a credible data reference. Do not use a reference already used by another student. Purchase the answer to view it
Title: Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the U.S. Health Care System
Introduction:
The evaluation of the effectiveness of the U.S. health care system requires an analysis of its delivery, finance, management, and sustainability aspects. This evaluation is essential to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the system and to understand the issues that have prompted the need for health care reform. Using credible data references, this paper aims to provide an analytical assessment of the U.S. health care system’s effectiveness and the reasons behind calls for reform.
Delivery:
The delivery of health care services in the U.S. health care system exhibits a mixed performance. On one hand, the United States is known for its significant advancements in medical technology and research. The country provides high-quality care, particularly in specialized areas such as oncology, cardiology, and transplants (OECD, 2019). Nevertheless, the effectiveness of care delivery is hindered by various challenges, including limited access for underserved populations, fragmentation of care, and inefficiencies in care coordination (Berenson et al., 2020).
Access to care remains a major issue in the U.S. health care system. Approximately 9.2% of the U.S. population, or about 29.2 million individuals, remained uninsured in 2019 (KFF, 2020). Lack of insurance coverage hampers individuals’ ability to obtain timely and preventive care, resulting in delayed diagnoses and higher treatment costs (CDC, 2020). For those with insurance, the issue resides in high out-of-pocket costs, such as deductibles and co-payments, which can discourage individuals from seeking necessary care.
Another challenge is the fragmentation of care, particularly in the primary care setting. The fee-for-service payment model, prevalent in the U.S. health care system, incentivizes multiple providers to deliver fragmented care to maximize reimbursement rather than focusing on coordinating care and improving patient outcomes (Adams et al., 2019). As a result, patients often experience poor care coordination, redundant tests, and inadequate communication among providers.
Finance:
The financing of the U.S. health care system is a complex issue that contributes to its overall effectiveness. The United States spends more on health care per capita than any other country, yet its health outcomes do not necessarily reflect this investment (OECD, 2019). In 2019, the U.S. health care expenditure accounted for 17.7% of the country’s gross domestic product (GDP), far surpassing that of other high-income countries (KFF, 2021).
The high cost of health care in the U.S. is influenced by several factors, including the high prices of pharmaceuticals, administrative costs, and the fee-for-service payment system (NEJM, 2020). The lack of negotiated drug prices, as seen in many other countries, allows pharmaceutical companies to charge significantly higher prices for medications. Additionally, the complex system of multiple payers, each with its own administrative costs, adds financial burdens to the overall health care system (Naylor et al., 2020).
Management:
The management of the U.S. health care system plays a crucial role in its effectiveness. One of the main issues in the current system is the lack of a unified electronic health record (EHR) system, which hampers the efficient exchange of patient information and contributes to errors and delays in care. While the passage of the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act in 2009 aimed to promote the adoption of EHRs, interoperability remains a significant challenge due to various technical and policy barriers (Rucker et al., 2021).
Additionally, the current system lacks strong care management programs that promote preventive care, chronic disease management, and population health. The fee-for-service model often rewards the volume of services provided rather than the quality or outcome of care, which undermines the management of chronic conditions and hinders the advancement of population health initiatives (Kocot et al., 2019).
Sustainability:
The sustainability of the U.S. health care system is a critical concern due to the projected increase in health care costs and the aging population. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), national health expenditure is projected to reach 19.4% of GDP by 2028 (CMS, 2020). This continuous rise in health care spending poses a threat to the financial stability of the system and raises concerns about affordability and accessibility of care in the future.
The sustainability issue is further exacerbated by demographic trends, with the aging population contributing to a higher demand for health care services. As the U.S. population continues to age, the prevalence of chronic diseases and the need for long-term care are expected to increase, placing additional strain on the health care system (Brookmeyer et al., 2011).
Conclusion:
In conclusion, the U.S. health care system exhibits strengths and weaknesses in its delivery, finance, management, and sustainability aspects. While the country has made significant advancements in medical technology and specialized care, challenges remain in terms of access to care, care coordination, high costs, EHR interoperability, and sustainability. These issues have prompted the need for health care reform in order to improve the effectiveness of the U.S. health care system and address the shortcomings identified.