U.S. Health Care: Politics and Policy Impact on Quality Care - Essay Sample

Introduction

Politics have closely defined various political aspects in the United States health care system, particularly in the making and execution of collective health care decisions. In the past, health care policies, act, and laws have been a contributing factor. Then, the political interventions contributing to the U.S. health care spanned through ensuring improved care and to larger populations (Sandy, Bodenheimer, Pawlson, & Starfield, 2009). For instance, with the creation of Health Quality Improvement Act (HCQIA) of 1986, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, Health Maintenance Organization Act of 1973, and the Health Security Act of 1993, these mark the then politics contributing to the United States health care system. Also, the then politics on policies and acts were based on the implementation and creation of a working health care delivery system (Sandy et al., 2009).

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Today, with the development of the health care system, and the revolution of politics, different health care policies and initiatives are contributing to the American health care system. Most of the policies are based on health care funding and affordability since the health care cost is continually rising. The development of policies such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act of 2010 has significantly contributed to the United States health care system. For instance, under the law, enterprises employing more than 200 individuals are required to provide health insurance coverage. These political influenced acts have offered health care practitioners the chance to participate in improving patient service delivery. Further, legislators have created different laws serving the health care system such as the PSQIA of 2005, encouraging reporting of medical errors.

Economic Factors Contributing to the U.S. Health Care System

In consideration of the economic factors associated with the United States health care system, the aggregate health care spending and information technology and e-health have been significant factors. Between 1995 to 2014, the United States health care spending has substantially increased, comprising 17.8% of the United States as of 2014 (Lassman et al. 2014). In the past, the aggregate health care spending in the United States was attributed to specific significant predictors of health such as income or poverty, economic hardship, and the housing burden. Then, housing in the United States had over 50% of households classified as "housing-cost burdened." By this, it means that approximately more than 30% of income by people then must be devoted to housing, combining both homeowners and renters. In as much as the 30% of gross income has been used for decades for housing costs, this has been a significant factor influencing health care costs and the entire health care system at large. In other cases, economic hardship contributed to the United States health care system. Then, the Economic Hardship Index (EHI) ranged highly, which could be attributed to high costs.

Compared to now, the increasing health care cost and advanced information technology are factors contributing to the United States health care system. Currently, significant emphasis has been attributed to the identification and examination of factors contributing to the spending growth and proposing policy solution meant to reduce spending growth. However, the population demographics, price inflation, developments in medical technology, and health care utilization have been significant aspects in explaining the relationship between health care increasing spending growth and economics of the U.S. health care system. Today, rising health care spending includes spending on hospitals, pharmaceutical drugs, health care physicians, and medical research.

Social Factors Contributing to the U.S. Health Care System

Social transformation plays a vital role in the United States health care system at an individual level. The social determinants affecting the health care system involve the education level, income, social and community support, and employment (Starr, 1982). In colonial America, culture was a major social factor that contributed to the United States health care system. From the consequences of colonization, high mortality rates, forced migration from the lands, and extreme poverty levels. Then, the traditional biomedical approach focused on diseases progression and treatment viewing health as the absence of a defect. While the viewpoint had achieved numerous wins and success, other factors were contributing to the health care system. In the present, there is growing recognition in defining population health, viewing it as a complete state of mental, social, physical well-being. Now, the socioeconomic status, access to health care, and education quality have been determinant of health. As such, access to education, health services, and healthy practices have contributed to the U.S. health care system. Furthermore, the present social factors such as housing and income conditions and access to health care services have delivered one of the significant aspects defining the health care system.

Improving the U.S. Health Care System

By far, the United States health care system has been amongst the most expensive models in the world. In the colonial era, individuals have lived and worked differently disconnected from each other. However, today, individuals are considerably connected, which is critical in bridging the gaps in the inefficiencies of the United States health care system (Andersen, Rice, & Kominski, 2011). To improve the health care system, the United States could consolidate services to ensure a better quality of health care while lowering costs at the same time. Even though the medical practice has shifted with outpatient venues, it is critical to note that the increasing cost of health care poses a significant problem. The market distortion in health care systems make it hard to deliver schemes; however, the insurance effect has been a stepping stone to reducing costs. Also, to improve the American health care system, information technology should be embraced. It includes a comprehensive electronic health record connecting hospitals and physicians. As the health care system is moving into the 21st century, information technology will improve the American health care system by improving services and lowering costs. In other cases, health care guidance and standards should be considered since it assists in ensuring that the included technology and developments do not pose a problem.

References

Andersen, R. M., Rice, T. H., & Kominski, G. F. (2011). Changing the U.S. health care system: Key issues in health services policy and management. John Wiley & Sons.

Lassman, D., Hartman, M., Washington, B., Andrews, K., & Catlin, A. (2014). U.S. health spending trends by age and gender: selected years 2002-10. Health Affairs, 33(5), 815-822.

Sandy, L. G., Bodenheimer, T., Pawlson, L. G., & Starfield, B. (2009). The political economy of U.S. primary care. Health Affairs, 28(4), 1136-1145.

Starr, P. The Social Transformation of American Medicine: The Rise of a Sovereign Profession and the Making of a Vast Industry. 1982. New York City, NY: Basic Books.