History of Health Care Policy Initiatives in the United States
Compared to the health care delivery system of other countries, “The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world (16 percent of GDP) with health status indicators that are, at best, only average in comparison with the less costly health systems of other countries” (Shortell, Gilles, & Wu, 2010, p. 191). As cited by Edelman, Kudzma, and Mandle (2014), “The rising cost of health care is consuming a growing percentage of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)” (p. 46). However, “Despite the vast resources devoted to financing the health care system, unequal access to care exists, especially among vulnerable populations” (Edelman, et al., 2014, p. 46). It must be noted, though, “Many of today’s problems have their roots in the decisions and directions of the past” (Edelman, et al., p. 50). One of the major health care policies and reforms addressed the two groups of the vulnerable populations, the poor and the elderly, with the Medicare and Medicaid program (Edelman, et al., 2014).
The decades following the passing of the Medicare/Medicaid program, the rising cost of health care prompted the …show more content…
30). The ACA is “designed to expand and sustain the necessary capacity to prevent disease, detect it early, manage conditions before they become severe, and provide states and communities the resources they need to promote healthy living” (Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, 2011, para. 1). In addition, “by supporting the integration of clinical medicine with population-based prevention, the ACA also builds on and strengthens the foundation for prevention and wellness established by Healthy People” (Fielding, et al., 2012, p.
Compared to the health care delivery system of other countries, “The United States has the most expensive health care system in the world (16 percent of GDP) with health status indicators that are, at best, only average in comparison with the less costly health systems of other countries” (Shortell, Gilles, & Wu, 2010, p. 191). As cited by Edelman, Kudzma, and Mandle (2014), “The rising cost of health care is consuming a growing percentage of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP)” (p. 46). However, “Despite the vast resources devoted to financing the health care system, unequal access to care exists, especially among vulnerable populations” (Edelman, et al., 2014, p. 46). It must be noted, though, “Many of today’s problems have their roots in the decisions and directions of the past” (Edelman, et al., p. 50). One of the major health care policies and reforms addressed the two groups of the vulnerable populations, the poor and the elderly, with the Medicare and Medicaid program (Edelman, et al., 2014).
The decades following the passing of the Medicare/Medicaid program, the rising cost of health care prompted the …show more content…
30). The ACA is “designed to expand and sustain the necessary capacity to prevent disease, detect it early, manage conditions before they become severe, and provide states and communities the resources they need to promote healthy living” (Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, 2011, para. 1). In addition, “by supporting the integration of clinical medicine with population-based prevention, the ACA also builds on and strengthens the foundation for prevention and wellness established by Healthy People” (Fielding, et al., 2012, p.