Question

An understanding of health care cost, access to care, and quality of care is vital for health care professionals, as is the ability to articulate these issues. For this assignment, students will examine the effects of cost and the issues associated with accessing quality care, both in a historical context as well as the future impact on health care. For this assignment, address the following in 750-1,000 word paper: Identify the factors contributing to the rising cost of health care. When did rising health care costs become an issue? Why are health care costs continuing to rise? What can be done to address this issue? Identify the impact that cost is having on access to care. How does access to health care today compare to 10 years ago? Can providers refuse care to those with certain payment methods such as Medicaid? Do you believe that we will have universal access to health care in the future? Discuss the issue of providing quality care. How much of a factor is cost in determining quality of care? What does the future of health care look like with regard to quality? Two references (minimum) in addition to your textbook are required for this assignment.

Answer 1

The Princeton University study, The factors contributing to the rising cost of health care are:

• aging population due to the increase in life expectancy for better services
• chronic diseases due to polluted environment
• increasing costs of outpatients and emergency cases
• need for long-term care
• higher spending by the high-level income groups
• sophisticated machinery and their tests
• Free or government-sponsored programs like Medicare and Medicaid
• New drugs and procedures are expensive
• Right information about right medical care
• hospitals in demand
• increasing malpractice lawsuits

Rising health care costs have become an issue in the last decade. In 1960, the healthcare cost was $27.2 billion and now in 2019, it is $3.5 trillion. It makes an annual health care cost of $10,739 per person in 2017 versus just $146 per person in 1960 as per 2017, US healthcare Report.

The health care costs are continuing to rise as due to rising health insurance schemes and the government policies for healthcare and most importantly people's choices and lifestyle has changed. Price inflation, federal financial incentives for health promotion are also the reasons.

There are things that can be done to reduce healthcare costs like

• prevention is better than cure, so eating healthy food and staying fit by doing exercises which reduces the medical expenses
• choosing the appropriate benefits
• planning the emergency cases ahead of time
• considering a convenience clinic care
• practicing safety and hygiene
• reviewing the medications for a lower cost one
• providing information to patients and healthcare information to the caretakers

People with financial barriers are unable to access the facilities provided in sophisticated hospitals. Access to healthcare has improved as a rising number of healthcare institutions and healthcare benefits with Medicaid or Medicare.  

Access to healthcare has improved in 2018-19 than 10 years before. The services are faster and accessible to all. There is a high reach in villages also.