Responsibility and Healthcare Reform

To begin, I would like to underscore the fact that this article and the conclusions that are drawn within it are purely speculative. It is considerably difficult to accurately calculate the affects of health care reform within the context of the United States, as it would be difficult in any other nation. However, we may be able to entertain some plausible ideas, despite the onerous task itself.

Currently, the United States spends more GDP on health care than does any other nation in the world. This may lead one to believe that the cost is directly proportional to the quality, efficiency, and success of such a health care system. Unfortunately, this is not the case. The WHO, in its 2000 survey, ranked the U.S. 37^th in general performance, and 72^nd in its overall level of health. Among all of the prominent nations taken into account during the course of this survey, it is astonishing to find that what once was the most progressive country in the world is now unable to meet basic standards of health, standards that ought to reflect its claim to greatness, but that may instead reflect something else.

Universally acceptable health care reform proposals abound, the presence of which are nearly impossible to ignore. The system is indeed itself flawed, its structural condition unsound. As was covered in a former article, American Healthcare within an International Context (at http://clearnursingmatters.wordpress.com/2009/09), there are a few distinct routes which our nation could choose to take with respect to health care reform. Perhaps we ought to ponder how each model may or may not affect certain aspects of our system. Let’s apply these models to institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes.

If the United States chose the way of “socialized medicine” as its reform, the implications may be as follows. One implication is the total government control of all medical institutions insofar as that it would be the sole operator, employer, and “payer” throughout the entirety of the system itself. Obviously, it would follow that such an implication would end the privatization of institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes. It has been argued that the socialization of health care would lead to things such as treatment rationing. This argument stems from the fact that in nations which follow models of this sort, such rationing does occur. Individuals with chronic conditions are denied medications, procedures, and the like due to limited government funding and the opinions of government panels.

There is also the possibility of a system that remains private in spite of strict government regulation. Institutions such as hospitals and nursing homes remain in the private realm. Such a system mandates that everyone receives any sort of care demanded – which is far more complex than it sounds. Regardless, those who need care typically receive it, provided that the given nation spends a sufficient amount of GDP on health care.

The final option requires a blend of privately run institutions and practitioners and government controlled payment system. Essentially, look at Canada. Like socialized medicine, a system of this nature leads to some inevitable occurrences. Patients go untreated, are unable to see specialists, and die unnecessarily.

When many people think of health care reform, I believe that they are pleased with what appears in their minds. A system wherein no one is required to pay for medical attention? – Sounds fantastic! However, one must inform oneself of the actual nature of various systems of health care, systems that our government is pondering over as we speak, systems that may or may not be justifiable within the sort of country we live in. I was once told, while in school, that no one cares as much about your academic performance as you do. I not only believe that this is true, but that it also ought to be applied to one’s perspective of one’s own health.

While there is much debate over the current and future of healthcare, what is your opinion? What needs to change? Do you agree or disagree with the prospective healthcare solutions currently being discussed?

About The Author:

Trisha Heise is a Staff Writer with the Clear Medical Solutions Communication Team.  Her work is regularly shared on the Clear Medical Agency newsletter and the ClearHIMMatters.com blog. 

References:

“How’s that Government-run Health Care Working Out, Britain?”. Conn Carroll. August 20^th, 2009. http://blog.heritage.org/2009/08/20/how’s-that-government-run-health-care-working-out-britiain/

“World Health Statistics 2009”. World Health Organization. May, 2009. http://www.who.int/whosis/whostat/2009/en/index.html