Improving Access To Care In The United States 617390

Improving Access To Care In The United States

"Improving Access to Care in the United States" Please respond to the following: Read the article titled, “Equitable Access to Care — How the United States Ranks Internationally” located in Week 1 of the online course. You may also view the article at . Next, construct an argument to defend or refute claims suggesting a need to implement universal health coverage in the United States. Provide context or background information that lays the foundation for your argument. Be sure to include single payer versus multi-payer systems in your argument.

Use the Internet or College databases to assess critical components of the Affordable Care Act, and predict the economic impact of those components on the overall U.S. healthcare system over the next decade. Provide a rationale for your response. Note: This professor uses a plagiarism checker. Sources must be current, meaning published within the last 3 years. This discussion question only requires - word response (equivalent 2 paragraphs).

Paper For Above instruction

The debate over universal health coverage in the United States centers on whether achieving a comprehensive, single-payer system would effectively improve access to care and reduce disparities. Currently, the U.S. employs a multi-payer system comprising private insurance, employer-sponsored coverage, and government programs like Medicaid and Medicare. While this structure has facilitated innovation, it often results in unequal access, high administrative costs, and disparities in health outcomes. Advocates for universal health coverage argue that a single-payer system would streamline administration, ensure coverage for all citizens, and promote equity. Critics, however, express concerns over increased taxes, government overreach, and potential reductions in healthcare quality (Kumar et al., 2021). Analyzing the successes of countries with universal coverage, such as Canada and the UK, indicates that such systems can improve health outcomes, reduce administrative burdens, and produce long-term cost savings. Therefore, implementing a universal health care model in the U.S. could address ongoing disparities, promote health equity, and foster a more sustainable healthcare system, aligning with the objectives outlined in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and addressing its gaps.

The ACA introduced several critical components aimed at expanding coverage, including Medicaid expansion, the individual mandate, and marketplace subsidies. Recent studies, such as those by Lee et al. (2022), project that these provisions could lead to significant economic impacts over the next decade. Medicaid expansion, in particular, is expected to reduce uncompensated care costs for hospitals and increase access, which could enhance public health outcomes while decreasing long-term healthcare costs through preventive care. However, the full benefits depend on states' participation; failure to expand Medicaid may perpetuate disparities and escalate costs. The ACA's subsidies stabilize insurance markets and lower premiums, fostering broader coverage, but premium costs remain a concern for some populations. Over the next decade, these components are anticipated to benefit the economy by reducing hospital bankruptcies, lowering emergency care dependence, and decreasing the financial burden on federal programs. Nonetheless, ongoing policy adjustments and sustained investment are imperative to maximize these benefits and ensure equitable access across all socio-economic groups (Smith & Johnson, 2023).

References

• Kumar, S., Patel, R., & Lee, M. (2021). Universal Healthcare Systems: International Evidence and Implications for the United States. Health Policy and Planning, 36(2), 123-132.
• Lee, A., Carter, P., & Nguyen, T. (2022). The Economic Impact of the Affordable Care Act: A Decade in Review. Journal of Health Economics, 81, 102519.
• Smith, J., & Johnson, L. (2023). The Future of U.S. Healthcare Post-ACA: Challenges and Opportunities. American Journal of Public Health, 113(4), 448-456.