Healthcare Finance

ANSWERS

The economic crisis drew unprecedented attention to the issue of the sustainability of healthcare systems in the developed world. However, the debate has largely focused on “traditional” issues such as cost-effectiveness, quality of care, and, more recently, patient involvement. There has not been enough focus on who pays and, more importantly, the sustainability of financing. This fundamental concept in health policy economics must be carefully reconsidered. Wage income in a globalized economy is increasingly insufficient to cover the rising cost of care as the labor share falls relative to capital. At the same time, as the cost of Social Health Insurance through employer contributions rises in tandem with medical costs, the economy’s competitiveness suffers. These reasons explain why spreading healthcare costs to all factors of production through comprehensive National Health Insurance funded by progressive taxation of all sources of income, rather than employer-employee contributions, protects healthcare objectives, especially during economic downturns, and ensures healthcare sustainability.

Healthcare systems emerged after 1950, as Europe recovered from World War II. Governments responded to public demands for affordable, accessible health care by shifting to the left. Until the 1970s, healthcare systems shared a single concern: how to channel an average of 7% of national GDP collected through taxes and labor contributions into healthcare services. Two major types of public health systems emerged, each named after its political instigator:

Bismarck systems are based on social insurance, with many public insurance funds funded by employer-employee contributions independent of health care provision. Belgium, France, and Germany are a few examples.

Beveridge systems handle public financing and health care delivery within a single tax-financed structure, such as the NHS in the United Kingdom and some Nordic countries.

QUESTION

Healthcare Finance

In this assessment, you will explore how a healthcare model/framework impacts health policy. You will explain the current United States presidential administration’s proposed changes to healthcare. This will help you understand the factors that affect healthcare finance.

Healthcare changes rapidly. This assessment is designed to help you understand how healthcare is organized and financed. It is important that, as a nurse, you possess a solid understanding of healthcare finance and subsequent impacts on policy.

Research the current healthcare model/framework based on the components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and include the following:

• Explain how the current presidential administration has organized the healthcare plan of this nation.
• Are social determinants evident in our existing healthcare policy?
• Based upon your research of the current healthcare framework, provide a summary of the proposed changes found under the current United States administration.

Cite at least 3 peer-reviewed sources published within the last 5 years that support your assignment. Include an APA-formatted reference page.

Format your assignment as one of the following:

• 875-word APA formatted  (must be in Word format)
• Video presentation (18-20 min long)
• Annotated PowerPoint presentation (must be at least 10 slides, not including title or reference slides and must include annotated notes with references)

Include an APA-formatted reference list.