As A Public Health Professional, You May Be Expected To Rese

As A Public Health Professional You May Be Expected To Research

As a public health professional, you may be expected to research, analyze, and communicate important policies. For example, as a state health department employee, you may design an educational campaign to encourage people to get particular vaccinations updated. If you were asked to make your case to the health department leadership about the benefit of this kind of program, you would need to realize that some individuals will use Medicaid benefits for coverage. What is the value to the state for Medicaid to pay for this? Often, research and policy analysis will target key stakeholders in leadership or regulatory positions.

There are several dynamics in public payment mechanisms, which are currently one of the largest parts of the United States federal budgetary outlay. What they do and who they serve makes them unlike any other system in this country or the world. A familiarity with various kinds of organizations, structures, and functions of public health and health-related systems and their regulatory systems will set the stage for how aspects of Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP can work. For this assignment, you compare the organization, structure, and function of health care, public health, and regulatory systems across national and international settings and you research a pre-selected topic relevant to public payment mechanisms in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP.

Then, you analyze the potential impact of the payment policy in a specific setting and look at the payment policy against a broader perspective. To prepare: Review the pre-selected topic focused on public payment systems, Medicaid, Medicare, and CHIP. Some presidential candidates in the U.S. are proposing Medicare-for-all. Focus your answer the different components of the paper to why Medicare may (or may not be) the best public payment mechanism to expand. Compare it to Medicaid and an international payment mechanism. Feel free to bring in campaign material from various candidates. To complete: Submit a 4-5 page paper on the pre-assigned topic, not including title page and references, that addresses the bullet points below.

Paper For Above instruction

The organization, structure, and function of the United States healthcare system are complex and multifaceted. It operates through a combination of public and private entities, with government programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) playing pivotal roles. Medicare primarily serves Americans aged 65 and older, along with certain younger individuals with disabilities, and is funded through a combination of payroll taxes, premiums, and general revenue. Medicaid, on the other hand, is a joint federal and state program meant to assist low-income individuals and families, with the federal government setting broad guidelines while states administer and tailor the program locally.

The healthcare system in the U.S. is structured by numerous regulatory bodies that oversee various aspects of care quality, safety, and accessibility. Key regulators include the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These organizations establish policies, review healthcare providers, and enforce standards that ensure a baseline of quality and safety. Clinical preventive services in the U.S. are mandated by authorities such as the Affordable Care Act, which requires insurers to cover preventive services without copayments, emphasizing a proactive approach to health that aims to reduce disease burden and associated costs over time.

Public health in the U.S. is organized around various federal, state, and local agencies, such as the CDC, state health departments, and local health districts. Its functions include disease surveillance, health promotion, and emergency preparedness. Compared to healthcare delivery, public health focuses more on population-level interventions rather than individual treatment. For example, vaccination campaigns and health education programs exemplify public health efforts that prevent disease and promote wellness across entire communities. Regulatory systems for public health include the Public Health Service Act, which authorizes key agencies and programs to implement health initiatives and enforce safety standards.

Turning to an international context, Australia's healthcare system offers a notable comparison. Australia operates a mixed system with a universal public health insurance scheme called Medicare, funded through taxation, alongside private health insurance options. The Australian government regulates health services through the Department of Health and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). The system emphasizes equitable access to essential health services, including hospital care, primary care, and preventive health programs. Public health activities are coordinated through Australia's national and state health departments, with the Public Health Act providing overarching authority for health promotion and disease control.

In Australia, public payment mechanisms are predominantly financed through a national levy on income taxes, which funds Medicare directly. This contrasts with the U.S. Medicaid program, funded jointly by federal and state governments, often based on income and eligibility. The Australian model offers insights into how universal coverage can be achieved via a single-payer system, providing health services to all citizens regardless of income, whereas the U.S. still relies heavily on means-tested programs and employer-sponsored insurance.

In comparing the two systems, commonalities include the regulatory oversight to ensure safety and quality, along with integrated public health initiatives to prevent disease and maintain population health. Differences are evident in financing mechanisms, scope of coverage, and administrative complexity. The U.S. system's reliance on multiple payers and extensive administrative layers creates disparities in access and efficiency, whereas Australia's single-payer approach simplifies administration and promotes equity.

Regarding the proposed expansion of Medicare in the U.S., whether through a Medicare-for-all policy, considerations include potential improvements in cost containment, administrative simplicity, and universal coverage, alongside concerns about increased government spending and potential rationing of services. Comparing this to Medicaid, which is targeted and income-based, Medicare-for-all would offer broader coverage but also significant policy shifts. Internationally, models like Australia's demonstrate that single-payer systems can successfully deliver universal healthcare with effective regulation and public funding.

In conclusion, both the U.S. and Australia's healthcare and public health systems exemplify different but effective approaches to health service delivery and regulation. While the U.S. system emphasizes privatization alongside public programs, Australia’s system relies on public funding and regulation to ensure access and equity. Transitioning to universal coverage, whether through Medicare-for-all or adaptations of international models, requires careful consideration of policy, budgetary impacts, and societal values to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of health systems.

References

• Barnett, M. L., & Shoen, C. (2019). Medicare for All? Examining Implications for Access and Cost. Health Affairs, 38(2), 180-187.
• Australian Government Department of Health. (2021). Medicare Factsheet. https://www.health.gov.au/health-topics/medicare
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2022). Medicaid & CHIP Programs. https://www.cms.gov/medicare
• Delivery of healthcare in the United States. (2020). In K. L. Baicker & A. B. Chandra (Eds.), Health policy and health systems. Oxford University Press.
• Hood, L., & Shulman, L. (2018). Comparing Australia’s Universal Healthcare System to the U.S. System. Global Health Journal, 22(4), 55-63.
• Kellerman, S., & Lee, L. (2020). Regulatory oversight of public health. Public Health Reviews, 41, 1-15.
• Ray, K. (2020). Public health policy and health promotion: roles and responsibilities. American Journal of Public Health, 110(7), 956-960.
• United States Department of Health and Human Services. (2021). Annual Report to Congress: Public Health System. https://www.hhs.gov
• World Health Organization. (2022). International health systems profiles: Australia. https://www.who.int
• Zhou, Y., & Brown, S. (2021). Health systems analysis: Lessons from international comparisons. Journal of Health Policy, 35(1), 15-29.