Week 3 E Activity: Go To The American Hospital Association W

Week 3 E Activity Go To Theamerican Hospital Association Websiteand R

Week 3 E-ACTIVITY · Go to the American Hospital Association Website and review at least three to five (3-5) key advocacy issues in Healthcare. Be prepared to discuss. DISCUSSION · From the e-Activity, compare the healthcare-based factors in the issues that you reviewed that, in your opinion, cause the cost curve of healthcare to shift. Provide at least one (1) example showing the manner in which the cost curve shifts in your response. · Suggest at least three (3) attributes that cause the supply curve in healthcare to fluctuate. Provide specific examples of each of the suggested attributes to support your response.

Paper For Above instruction

The American Hospital Association (AHA) plays a crucial role in advocating for hospitals and healthcare providers across the United States. Their website offers comprehensive insights into pressing advocacy issues that significantly influence the healthcare landscape. In this discussion, I will review five key issues highlighted by the AHA: healthcare affordability, workforce shortages, healthcare technology innovation, regulatory policies, and healthcare access disparities. These issues not only shape policy debates but also have tangible impacts on the cost and supply dynamics within the healthcare system.

Key Advocacy Issues in Healthcare

Firstly, healthcare affordability remains a persistent challenge. Rising costs of medical services, prescription drugs, and insurance premiums contribute to financial barriers for patients. The AHA advocates for policies that aim to control costs while maintaining quality care, emphasizing value-based pay models. Secondly, workforce shortages, especially of nurses and primary care physicians, threaten the capacity of hospitals to deliver services. The AHA supports initiatives like loan forgiveness and education funding to bolster the healthcare workforce. Thirdly, technological advancements, such as telehealth and electronic health records, are transforming care delivery but require significant investment. The AHA promotes policies that support the integration of innovative technologies. Fourth, regulatory policies, including reimbursement rates and compliance requirements, heavily influence hospital operations. Advocacy efforts focus on streamlining regulations to reduce administrative burdens. Lastly, disparities in healthcare access, particularly among minority and rural populations, challenge hospital efforts to provide equitable care. The AHA advocates for expanded coverage and targeted community programs.

Factors Causing the Healthcare Cost Curve to Shift

Analyzing these issues reveals multiple factors that influence the healthcare cost curve. The cost curve represents overall expenditures within the healthcare system over time. An increase in any of the key advocacy issues tends to drive the cost curve upward. For example, the adoption of advanced medical technologies, while improving quality, incurs high costs. Hospitals may need to invest heavily in state-of-the-art equipment and training, which increases healthcare spending. Specifically, the widespread deployment of telehealth platforms during the COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies this; initial setup and ongoing operational costs contributed to rising expenses, shifting the cost curve upward.

Additionally, workforce shortages lead to increased labor costs, as hospitals compete for limited staff through higher wages and incentives. This increased expenditure on personnel, combined with the necessity to maintain service levels despite staffing gaps, further pushes the cost curve upward. Moreover, addressing disparities in healthcare access often requires dedicated outreach and community programs, which entail additional expenses that inflame overall healthcare expenditures.

Factors Causing the Healthcare Supply Curve to Fluctuate

The supply curve in healthcare, which represents the availability of healthcare services, fluctuates based on several attributes:

1. Workforce Capacity: The number of trained healthcare professionals directly affects service availability. For example, a shortage of nurses limits hospital capacity to accept new patients, constricting supply. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many hospitals faced staffing shortages, which reduced service availability.

2. Technological Investment: The level of technological infrastructure determines the variety and volume of services a healthcare provider can offer. For example, the installation of robotic surgical systems enhances surgical capacity and precision, increasing supply in specialized procedures.

3. Regulatory Environment: Policies that regulate licensing, accreditation, and reimbursement influence how easily new providers can enter the market or existing providers can expand services. For instance, restrictive licensing laws for new clinics can limit supply, while streamlined regulations facilitate expansion.

In conclusion, understanding the advocacy issues highlighted by the American Hospital Association provides insight into the complex factors influencing healthcare costs and supply. The interplay of technological, workforce, regulatory, and access-related attributes shapes the economic landscape of healthcare, demanding strategic policy responses to balance costs with access and quality.

References

  • American Hospital Association. (2023). Advocacy and Policy Issues. https://www.aha.org/issues
  • Baker, L. C., & Burke, S. (2020). Healthcare Technology and Cost Implications. Journal of Healthcare Management, 65(4), 250-262.
  • Fuchs, V. R. (2020). The Future of Healthcare Costs. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(2), 105-107.
  • Long, M. C., & Capps, C. (2019). Workforce Shortages in Healthcare: Causes and Solutions. Health Affairs, 38(10), 1619-1626.
  • Marmor, T. (2021). Regulatory Policies and Healthcare Supply. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 46(3), 541-560.
  • Peterson, K., et al. (2018). Disparities in Healthcare Access. Public Health Reports, 133(2), 181-190.
  • Rnwa, J. A., & Whitley, E. (2018). Economic Factors in Healthcare Cost Management. Medical Economics, 95(11), 24-30.
  • Shea, S., et al. (2021). Technology Adoption in Hospitals: Cost and Supply Effects. Health Services Research, 56(5), 789-802.
  • Steinbrook, R. (2019). Healthcare Delivery and Cost. JAMA, 322(16), 1545-1546.
  • Williams, S. (2022). Policy Impacts on Healthcare Supply and Costs. Annals of Family Medicine, 20(2), 120-124.

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