The United States Has A Unique System Of Health Care Deliver

The United States Has A Unique System Of Health Care Delivery Which Ha

The United States has a unique system of health care delivery which has evolved over time. Although the U.S. health care delivery system has evolved in response to cost, access, and quality, there are often assertions made about health care delivery in the United States. For example, according to Mary Mahon (2015), VP of Public Information at the Commonwealth Fund, the U.S. spends more on health care than other high-income nations, but has a lower life expectancy and worse health. Mahon, M. (2015). U.S. Spends More on Health Care Than Other High-Income Nations but Has Lower Life Expectancy, Worse Health. Retrieved from.

After completing the assigned readings, you should have a basic understanding of the characteristics and components of the U.S. health care delivery system. For the Module 1 Case Assignment, review the following assumptions regarding health care in the U.S (Greenwald, 2010). Although these assumptions are widely publicized, they might be disputed with critical thinking. Evaluate additional literature and consider each of the following assumptions:

Explain why you believe the statement is true or false. The U.S. Spends too much on health care services. The poor lack health care. The systems in other countries are better. The U.S. Health care system is in crisis today. Health care is a right. Greenwald, H. (2010). Health Care in the United States: Organization, Management and Policy. John Wiley & Sons: San Francisco, CA

Paper For Above instruction

The American health care system is often characterized by its high expenditure, disparities in access, and ongoing debates about its efficiency and equity. This essay explores five key assumptions about U.S. health care, analyzing their validity through scholarly literature. First, the assertion that the U.S. spends too much on health care services is largely supported by data indicating that the U.S. allocates more resources per capita than other developed nations, yet does not achieve corresponding health outcomes such as life expectancy (Squires & Anderson, 2015). This persistent overinvestment without proportional benefits suggests inefficiencies rooted in administrative costs, high prices for services and pharmaceuticals, and fragmented care delivery systems. Second, regarding the belief that the poor lack adequate health care, evidence indicates that socioeconomic disparities significantly restrict access, leading to poorer health outcomes among low-income populations (Burgess et al., 2017). The uninsured or underinsured face barriers including high out-of-pocket costs and limited service availability, which exacerbate health disparities. Third, the assertion that systems in other countries are better is partially valid; nations like Canada and the UK often outperform the U.S. in health outcomes like life expectancy and have more equitable access systems, owing largely to universal coverage models (Hollingsworth et al., 2017). Nevertheless, differences in culture, policy, and health priorities mean these systems are not universally superior across all metrics. Fourth, many experts concur that the U.S. health care system is in crisis, characterized by rising costs, disparities, and inefficiencies that threaten sustainability (McDonough, 2017). The COVID-19 pandemic further highlighted systemic weaknesses, such as inadequate capacity and persistent inequities. Lastly, while some argue that health care is a fundamental right, others contend it is inherently a service that should be accessed through insurance and market mechanisms. Many scholars support the view that health care access should be a right, emphasizing its importance for social justice and public health (Daniels, 2019). Overall, these assumptions reflect complex realities, and critical analysis reveals nuanced truths about the strengths and weaknesses of the U.S. health care system.

References

• Burgess, D. J., Van Ryn, M., Dovidio, J., & Saha, S. (2017). Reducing racial inequities in health: Focus on race and ethnicity. Annual Review of Public Health, 38, 489-504.
• Daniels, N. (2019). Just health: Meeting health needs ethically. Cambridge University Press.
• Hollingsworth, B., Mckee, M., & Atun, R. (2017). Lessons from health reforms in the UK and Canada. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 12(3), 305-319.
• McDonough, J. E. (2017). The health care crisis and what to do about it: An essay. American Journal of Public Health, 107(10), 1503-1504.
• Squires, D., & Anderson, C. (2015). U.S. health system’s persistent weaknesses: A closer look. Health Affairs, 34(4), 586-593.