Introduce and define the topic
Discuss the details of the topic
What are the pros and cons (or support vs opposition)?
What is your personal stand on the issue?

The audience of this paper knows nothing about the topic, and the goal of the paper is to educate them, and after reading this paper, the audience should have a general understanding of the topic.

Why are U.S healthcare costs so high? What can realistically be done to control costs? What are your solutions?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of U.S Healthcare System

For decades US Healthcare costs have been steadily rising because of the existing Government policies. According to Researchers, healthcare critics, and think tanks, this is due to the huge budgetary allocations spent on healthcare each year. However, since the inception of Medicaid and Medicare, there has been sprawling pressure to provide affordable healthcare. Healthcare is a basic need, and the Government should ensure that all people have access to quality healthcare despite their financial income. The healthcare system is expensive due to the high cost of drugs, hospital services, and diagnostic tests. US healthcare boosts one of the most innovative medical equipment and tools compared to other OECD.  With this kind of system, doctors are encouraged to conduct more tests to establish the core issues ailing people.  Furthermore, most doctors charge a slightly higher fee for general consultations than other industrialized countries.

According to a study conducted by Bloomberg News, healthcare premiums are rising faster than net income and inflation in the US. The cost of family premiums has continuously increased over the last seven years. Over the last decade, the average family premiums have skyrocketed by 55%, while the workers’ earnings have increased by 26 percent only, and inflation staggering at 17% during the same period. For instance, in 2018, a Bloomberg survey showed that yearly family premiums for corporate-sponsored health insurance increased to $19,616 (Richard).

Moreover, the US has the most expensive pharmaceutical drugs in the rest of the world. For instance, a 2018 Vox report showed that the Humira drug, which is introduced to the body through an injection and is prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn’s disease patients, is three times much expensive in the US than in Switzerland. Furthermore, the report shows that Harvoni, used to treat Hepatitis C, is $10,000 more expensive in the US than in Europe. Avastin, a life-saving chemotherapy agent, charges nine times more. Insulin, a staple medication for Diabetics patients, costs $ 250 more in the US than in Canada (Real Clear Policy).

Although drugs are expensive diagnostic tools and surgeries are also a primary contributor to high healthcare costs. For example, a routine MRI check-up in the United States costs two times the price in Switzerland, while the US healthcare system charges $12,000 more than in Australia for appendix removal. Childbearing charges also vary significantly in the US and abroad. With approximately $2500, one can safely give birth in Germany compared to $12,000 in the US.

The US health care industry is a controversial topic that has elicited polarized opinions between the conservative and liberal parties. US healthcare has become a salient topic for policymakers, law enforcement, and the public and medical providers. Although many factors are causing the constant rise of healthcare costs, the critical issue is the high cost of blockbuster drugs. As a result, the Government conducts comprehensive medication analysis to evaluate prescription medicine’s therapeutic value as most introduced drugs have no additional therapeutic value (Simmons University). Following this, the Healthcare industry bans these drugs from competing for generic medicine. Also, there is being massive sensitization to educate the public about the prohibited drugs and provide them with therapeutic substitutes.

It is also necessary for the Government to negotiate with drug companies to develop price-friendly drugs with therapeutic value. The Government has implemented lifestyle changes to eradicate the high costs of consultations and treatment; workplaces should invest in an individual’s health and well-being. Changes in diet, getting exercise, flexible working hours will boost an individual’s health and lower the health care costs and insurance claim (CDC). In conjunction with the health care industry, the Government should also establish transparent health care pricing programs. In furtherance, the system should eradicate the patient fee service and implement a patient care oriented approach, value-based care whereby compensation for Health care providers is based on the effectiveness of the treatment but not the quality and efficiency.

Negotiating drugs directly with the pharmaceutical companies will ensure that the prices are fair and affordable to the public. It will also provide the provision of generic medicines that are of therapeutic value to the patients. Mass education about health care insurance and claims will give the patients the confidence to ask questions about their medications. Moreover, implementing transparent and honest health insurance and insurance systems allows patients to make the right decisions when choosing a medical cover. However, the drugs will cause a rapid shift in the provision of health care. The supply chain will curtail the provision of certain blockbuster drugs, which will drive supply chain inefficiencies. Implementing a patient-focused approach may affect the treatment process. For example, Registered nurses can minimize the number of check-ups by handing over the patient to a community nurse.

The state of the US health care system is a growing concern that needs urgent intervention. Health care is a basic need, and all people should have access to quality healthcare. Therefore I would recommend that the Government, pharmaceutical companies, and medical care providers work together to establish a patient-centric, value-based, and affordable healthcare system.

Works Cited

CDC. Workplace health programs can impact health care costs. 4 December 2015. https://www.cdc.gov/workplacehealthpromotion/model/control-costs/index.html. 2021.

Real Clear Policy. Five Facts: Why U.S. Health Care is So Expensive. 4 April 2019. https://www.realclearpolicy.com/articles/2019/04/04/five_facts_why_us_health_care_is_so_expensive__111148.html#! 2021.

Richard, Knox. Common Health. 13 March 2018. https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2018/03/13/us-health-costs-high-jha. 2021.

Simmons University. Healthcare Forum: What Can be Done to Control Drug Costs? April 2020. https://www.simmons.edu/news/healthcare-forum-what-can-be-done-control-drug-costs. 2021.