Question

In your own words, answer the following questions. Who are the stakeholders of health policy? Name an example of each. What kinds of concerns does each stakeholder have about the current US healthcare system?

Answer 1

The key stakeholders are patients, agencies, physicians, insurance companies, government, etc. For example, insurance firms offers health coverage plans to the patients either with the help of employer or through government agencies. Likewise, pharmaceutical organizations produce medicine and market the same as per the doctors prescriptions for the patients prescriptions. This happens as per remuneration decided by the government or insurance companies for the ‘drug benefit plans’. In this case, doctors are the providers and patients are at the receivable end. Government plays a vital role to offer subsidies for the old people or disabled or poor individuals. Each stakeholder has role to play to provide the inputs when any health reform happens. If we see concerns with respect to the current US health system, then patients or consumers are the primary beneficiary for the health policy. Similarly, health care providers or agencies expertise in the required areas. Healthcare companies focus how to serve better to the potential customers. Insurers or payers concerns about their share in the market and how to provide coverage are at the reasonable costs. Government or regulator concerns about the quality service or product. Manufactures of the medical devices concern about the sales of the products to have profits.