Impacts of Rising Healthcare Costs in the US

Impacts of Rising health c ar Costs in the USAssessment 3 International Policies and sparing DilemmasINTRODUCTION health is highly valued by the community, and umteen would add up that Health is indeed Wealth. In this constantly changing milieu what becomes of the counties financial wealth when health c ar lives atomic number 18 expanding beyond national income? In a crude York Times interview, Victor Fusch argued that both our pecuniary problems provide be solved when the declaration to health business organization spend is formulated (Koalata, 2012).How are countries able to cope with the increasing represent of health address spend while remaining fisc all toldy sustainable? Sustainability of a squeamish health care system is further challenged by the ball-shaped economic down-turn. High-quality health care is not necessarily expensive plainly does take a colossal chunk of the political sympathies budget in particular for countries with universal heal th care. While unquestionable countries struggle to provide universal coverage, poorer nations find it hard to afford make up the most basic health care services.IMPACT OF INCREASING health care COST TO NATIONAL AND INTERNATONAL POLICIESHealthcare is a challenging theater of operations for all nations. Cost, addition and quality are three main factors that withdraw advertent consideration in healthcare insurance policy regulation. The sky rocketing cost of healthcare is a gradually expanding world(prenominal) dilemma and its impact on a national and international level will be discussed in the avocation section.2.1 International comparison How does the U.S fare with other genuine countries?The ailing healthcare system of the United States is no news to the world. For decades the healthcare system has set a substantial amount of pressure on the countrys fiscal sustainability and at most a root ca lend oneself of its fiscal problems (Koalata, 2012). On 2010, the United St ates spent some $8,508 USD per person which is 17.7% of its GDP (Gross municipal Product). That is 2.5 much(prenominal) than most of the developed countries healthcare expenditure like Canada (14.7% of GDP, $4,522 per person), unexampled Zealand (9.5% of GDP, $3,925 per person) and United Kingdom (9.4% of GDP, $5,643 per person) where healthcare is universal (The commonwealth Fund, 2013).Apart from emanation administrative be, another reason for the United States grandiose spending lies on its complex billing system- one that is arguably biased. In this system, healthcare providers dejection hand-pick their patients (Koalata, 2012). A more than expensive health insurance for the most part increases the likelihood of care, treatment and infirmary admission or mendelevium consultation. and so in most cases, people with private insurance are more eligible for healthcare services compared to the ones with government subsidised insurance much(prenominal) as Medicare and Med icaid. This leaves the country with a high level of inequity with regards to healthcare services. People who are underinsured, in many cases, might as wellhead be considered uninsured.The United States Healthcare system is currently a mess, it has been for old age now. In fact no country is as economically salubrious as it is expected to be in lieu with their respective healthcare systems, although countries like Sweden and Canada surpass others in this regard (The people Fund, 2013). Globally, the increasing cost for healthcare is due to numerous factors such as an increasing aging population, advancing engineering science, increasing expectations due to increasing income and a widening draw of new treatments (The solid ground Fund, 2013).2.2 Addressing increasing be in healthcare both country has its respective healthcare issues. It is perfectly understood that no healthcare system is flawless. Every policy has its trade-offs. The measure of a successful policy however, lies on its flexibility and sustainability.2.2.1 Cost-containmentCost-containment allows countries to piece a cap on healthcare spending. In contrast to the United States, France and Japan use a universal fee schedule which allows them to pay hospitals, vivifys and other healthcare providers a homogeneous rate for most of the patients that they attend to. In addition, Japan ensures flexibility by lowering fees to certain areas that are growing faster than projected (The demesne Fund, 2013). Similarly, The National Fund for the Insurance of Employed defecateers (CNMATS) in France closely monitors spending on all kinds of services (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). If a particular area grows faster than expected, CNMATS intervenes by lowering the cost of the specific service (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Other hitchs include monitoring prescription medication. Whenever appropriate, the physicians are encouraged to use cheaper generic drugs by employees in insurance funds sent by t he CNMATS (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013).In the United States, cost containment is very inflexible . Because the healthcare system mostly runs on private insurances, business owners have the excerpt of asking providers to contain their costs or passing on higher(prenominal) costs to patients with higher premiums.2.2.2 Re-organizing Health careInformation and communications technology effectively cuts down healthcare costs. Cutting ass on healthcare passkeys workload basis immensely save a couple of dollars per hour. For example, Sweden uses electronic drug prescription where a message is sent directly from the doctors office to the pharmacy (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). This particular intervention cuts back an hour or two of the pharmacists work per day. Not only is the intervention efficient, it also increases effectiveness due to a decrease in aesculapian errors. Another intervention would be admitting acute care patients in a community setting rather than a hospital setting (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Hospital admissions are far more expensive than clinics privately owned or governmentally operated. A health workforce mix erect also be used to cut back on physician costs wherein nurses and pharmacists are allowed to do about of the physicians responsibilities (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). In a way, heath care mix alleviates the health workforce crisis at some extent.Impact on International PoliciesThe World Health Organisation has do it clear that prevention is better than cure and is less expensive in most cases. As of 2013, WHO has focused on the prevention of communicable and non-communicable disease. alliance and Public interventions mandated by WHO include cost-effective policies such as levy and price increase on tobacco products (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Developed and evolution countries including Bangladesh, Egypt and Pakistan have gained substantial amount of profit and have saved many lives due to the regulation of the said po licy (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Less smokers feed to lesser cardiovascular and pulmonary disorders (i.e. arteriosclerosis- a major pre-cursor to heart attacks and stroke, bronchial asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disorder). In addition valuatees on inebriantic beverages have also been regulated which has significantly decreased accidents related to alcohol intoxication and cirrhosis occurrences (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013).Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high countercurrent pressure are very costly. Treatment and management of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are very costly. Majority of NCDs can be averted finished interventions and policies that reduce major risk factors- such as obesity. Many preventive measures are cost-effective and have lively impact on the burden of disease at the population level. on the whole the said preventative measures decreased the number of unnecessary disability and fatality rat e which significantly cut back on health costs.POLICY discussion SOLUTION TO RISING HEALTH CARE COST3.1 Education and schoolingA healthy population leads to sound learning. With teaching method, humans awareness and development countries will be able to provide the necessary community healthcare contracts especially in rural areas. In other words, education leads to economic growth and a major tool in the solution of todays economic crisis.New technology and new development of vaccines and chemotherapeutic agents are incapable of change on their own. They need vectorshealthcare workers who are well-trained and adequately motivated, to make a digression. Education and gentility provides public protection once morest environmental hazards and control of communicable diseases such as HIV- an estimated 35.3 (32.238.8) zillion carriers as of 2012 (WHO, 2008).A famine of 4.3 million trained healthcare workers has been account on 2006 (WHO, 2008). This shortage coupled with the burden of infectious and non-communicable diseases in evolution countries and the ageing population in developed countries are placing increasing demands on health systems worldwide and are resulting in avoidable deaths and unnecessary disabilities.In addition to readiness of treatment and care, healthcare workers are necessary in the spread of health awareness. One method that has proven effective in decreasing healthcare cost is the self-management plan (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). The said weapons platform reduces the use of healthcare services among people with chronic illnesses. In the U.S about 70% of all healthcare expenditures are related to chronic illnesses. recent studies have shown that a person can cut back on 2 years worth of healthcare expenditures (an average of USD $590) with a truncated self-management training (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Apart from health improvement and less deterioration, the program also cuts on hospital stays and outpatient visits. 3.2 Tax Benefits and Payments to CaregiversTax benefits help as indirect requital to caregivers wherein governments aim to encourage family members and relatives to assume the versed caregiver role. Through this policy, the cost of healthcare is minimised through reduction or delay of an individuals institutionalization.Every countrys compensation plan differs from one another. Incentives are provided to suite the communitys need in lieu with the countrys provision capacity. Canada for example, gives out own(prenominal) im does or what is often called as the equivalent to spouse assent- tax deductible incentives (Canadian centralise of elder Law, 2013). In addition, Medical expenses credit is also available to further run on caregivers with respective medical expenses (Canadian Centre of older Law, 2013). Even though Canada has a seemingly good compensation plan, it misses the direct compensation aspect of the Caregiving Policy.In contrast, Australia, United Kingdom and F rance are able to provide direct compensation to informal caregivers wherein actual payments are given to care recipients for their services (Canadian Centre of Elder Law, 2013). U.K provides Care Allowances to support family caregivers via social security programs instead of providing tax incentives. In Australia, the Carer Payment provides a bi-weekly benefit to caregivers where caregivers from both low to high-income families are supported (Canadian Centre of Elder Law, 2013). Approximately AUD $1,450 per month plus an annual bonus is provided by the government to support informal caregivers. In some European countries the Family Caregiver lock exists where family caregivers are given wages the same as a paying(a) caregiver (Canadian Centre of Elder Law, 2013).3.3 abatement CareCertain studies conducted in the United States, showed that the level of disability or care is directly proportionate to work absences and inversely proportional to job acceptances (The Commonwealth Fu nd, 2013). Therefore, inlet care is provided to support and provide temporary relief for family caregivers. Respite care can be utilized regularly or irregularly based on the caregivers transgression.Similar studies have showed that respite care results in fewer hospital admission and lower emotional health problems for both caregivers and care recipients (The Commonwealth Fund, 2013). Caregiver stress is a common problem for informal caregivers. Respite care prevents caregiver burn-out and relieves care-giver stress. These short breaks allow the caregivers to attend to urgent matters or provide themselves with the vacation that they deserve. The prevention of caregiver health problems through respite care eventually lowers healthcare cost.Business Regulation Combining Work and CaregivingFor the past decades, many employers have implemented works policies, programs and incentives for employees work-family needs. The work-family agenda that family advocates and professional human re source associations promote recognizes how difficult it is to juggle responsibilities at sign of the zodiac with those at work. Employers are encouraged to embrace a work-family agenda not only because it creates a more positively charged descent between employers and their employees, but it has positive economic effects as well. Failure to address family issues whitethorn cost employers billions each year due to lost productivity (Canadian Centre of Elder Law, 2013).Flexible work stead policies enhance employees productivity, reduce absenteeism, reduce costs, and bet to have positive effects on profit. In addition, these policies aid on the efforts of recruitment and retention wherein employers tend to retain a talented and conditioned workforce while money that would otherwise be used in the recruitment, selection and training of a new employee would be retained.Family has been referred to as the twist block of a community. A healthy family is productive to both maintain g overnment and business community. Therefore, the government must monitor the needs of the working force to sustain a productive economy.Financial support and provision of pension credits for care givingReduced participation in paid practice has significant consequences for the family caregivers pension security. demean income earnings undermine the caregivers ability to save for loneliness and reduce accumulated pension credits (Canadian Centre of Elder Law, 2013). light Caregiving remains the least expensive form of care. In a kinsperson where people have to cut back on working hours or quit their jobs altogether, comprehensive measures need to be put in place to compensate for the services provided by caregivers. Although this area of provision remains poor to sustain most care-giver needs, many countries have paved the way for its innovation.Carer support in Australia and Norway are provided to care givers who have not sustained employment due to their caregiver roles. Othe r Pension plans in Germany, France, U.K and Sweden act as contributions for family caregivers.CONCLUSIONHealthcare cost inflation has risen yet again after its hibernation during the 1990s. Billions are spent on healthcare cost annually with the United States at the forefront. Along with ascension healthcare cost is rising dissatisfaction on the system. People are struggling to accept the price hiker on healthcare indirectly proportional to the quality of the system. Peoples dissatisfaction coupled with the impending crisis because of the healthcare price hike, policy makers have started to tang on possible reforms to decrease healthcare costs without compromising access and quality.Expensive healthcare is increasingly becoming a burden especially to developing countries where healthcare provisions are of the most basic. Increasing cost of healthcare also increases the inequity gap for all countries. It means more people in poverty are getting lesser care and treatment than peopl e above the poverty line. This goes against internationally established healthcare ethics. Unless a compromise or a solution is set in motion as soon as possible, problems arising from rising healthcare costs will become much more of a burden tomorrow that they are today.Strategies to contain or even reduce healthcare costs have been tried in recent years. Further education and training have been encouraged especially to poorer nations in an attempt to eradicate the shortage of healthcare workers and professionals. Adequate healthcare workers make a extensive difference on a micro-economic and macro-economic level. In a bacterial or viral view, more vectors means faster transmission of illnesses and higher rates of magnetic variation thus a swifter eradication of the human race. This theory applied to the healthcare worker shortage mean more workers for economic stability and more people against the spread of illness. Examples of these policies have been mentioned in the previous section. Education and knowledge is just one step that can make a huge difference when regulated properly and consistently.Caregiver incentives such as tax relief, pension credits and security benefits financially assist informal caregivers. These policies change a more personal care provided to family members who are disabled, ageing or just incapable of self-maintained care. The international overview of these policies pave the way for a spheric reform. Although changes will be country specific, developing countries or other developed countries can make use of the template provided by the nations who have undergone reforms with positive outcomes. It is then important to look at evidence-based practice to further every nations development.Lastly, business policies on caregivers need to be put in careful consideration due to possible caregiver discrimination. A strong workforce is needed for an economy to remain sustainable. It is mostly through taxes gathered from the working cl ass that a nation is able to operate. thence employers have to be encouraged to establish a good relationship with its employees with regards to work hours and work incentives.No matter how many policies are put in place and no matter how many times a nation reforms its healthcare system, flexibility and sustainability of all the policies need to be change integrity first. Trying times call for desperate measures and I believe that unless solutions are formulated soon, either the economy will fail or nations will give more of the citizens healthcare responsibilities at their own cost. To remain fiscally sustainable and capable of high quality healthcare provision, individual countries need to learn from each others policies and reforms. There is no magic bullet for this healthcare dilemma but history has recorded that international cooperation remains the worlds only hope for any global struggle.ReferencesCanadian Centre of Elder Law. (2013). Family Caregiving. Vancouver. Author .Kolata, G. (2012, March 5). Knotty Challenges in Health Care Costs. The New York Times. D6. Retrieved from http//www.nytimes.comThe Commonwealth Fund. (2013). International Profiles of Health Care Systems, 2013. New York Author.World Health Organisation WHO. (2008). Scaling Up, Saving Lives. London. Author.1