The first and foremost among health care stakeholders is the pubic. Without the public, there wouldn’t be a need for the system. They are the one who pays for the service (tax or health insurance premium) and consume the service. Unfortunately, the gross combined enrollment of 119.249 million in Medicaid and Medicare in 2011 outnumbered the 112.556 million full-time workers employed in both the private sector and in government in 2011. (www.cnsnews.com)
The role and the view of the public have changed so much in the past few decades. In the 19th and early 20th century, providers distanced patients from awareness of costs and responsibilities. More recently, the public are more educated and more encouraged significantly in participating in every health care decision. Consumers have turned to the Internet in part because of the dissatisfaction with the amount of information available from traditional sources. The public cynicism spawned as increasing information about the problems of costs, quality, and access has become public. The public is more prepared with media and internet information, more informed about treatment options, and more concerned about cost. This more knowledgeable and involved patient population has placed a new challenge on the providers. (Sultz & Young)
Health care cost, quality and access have been major concerns to the public and all other stakeholders. In 2012, 17.7%, more than 47 million of nonelderly Americans and 640,000 of the elderly were uninsured. (www.Kff.org).
The Essay on Public Health In A Multicultural Environment
Public health in a Multicultural Environment MCHB or Maternal and child health bureau takes care of physical and mental health of citizens across the United States. Its main strategy is to eliminate disparities out of multi cultural society. It has created a five year strategic plan to take care of maternal and child health. It is well funded by DRTE so that it can implement its vision. For this ...
The United States has the least universal, most costly health care system in the industrialized world. (Bodenheimer & Grumbach).
However after the Affordable Care Act of 2010, a new “Patient’s Bills of Rights”, gives American people the stability and flexibility they need to make informed choices about their health. (www.HHS.gov).
Since PPACA requires all individuals to have health insurance by 2014, with some exceptions, and health care should be more affordable and accessible to the public, hopefully millions of people who were previously uninsured will gain coverage. As of May 5, 2014, U.S. uninsured rate drops to 13.4%. (www.gallup.com).
Health promotion and disease prevention are now the new public health focus. The country’s historical emphasis on health care has been curative. The costs of diagnostic and remedial care became an unacceptable burden and the lack of adequate insurance coverage. (Sultz & Young).
Consumers are given incentives to practice healthy lifestyles, rewards for engaging in health management and fitness.
Consumers have influence in shaping a legislative proposal and decisions on health care. For example, the Consumer Coalitions rally around specific issues are effective in generating political pressure in health care reform. (Sultz & Young).
References
Sultz, A., & Young, K. (2011).
Healthcare USA: Understanding Its Organization and Delivery. Sudbary, MA: Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Bodenheimer, T., & Grumbach, K (2012).
Understanding Health Policy: A Clinical Approach. New York, New York: The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Langer, G. (2003) Health Care Pains Growing Health Care Concerns Fuel Cautious Support for Change. Retrieved from http://www.abcnews.go.com
Jeffrey, T. (2012).
Medicaid and Medicare Enrollees Now Outnumber Full-Time Private Sector Workers. Retrived from http://cnsnews.com
(2013).
The Uninsured: A Primer – Key Facts about Health Insurance on the Eve of Coverage Expansions. Retrived from http://kff.org
The Dissertation on Three Essays on Health Care
This dissertation has been motivated by the question of how countries should optimally structure health care. Especially, there are two important economic and policy questions asked that extend beyond the area of health economics. The …rst is how the expansion of health insurance coverage a¤ects the utilization and health of its bene…ciaries (extensive margin); the second is how generous should ...
http://kff.org/uninsured/report/the-uninsured-a-primer-key-facts-about-health-insurance-on-the-eve-of-coverage-expansions/
( )About the Law. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov
http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/
Levy, J. (2014).
U.S. Uninsured Rate Drops to 13.4%. Retrieved from http://www.gallup.com
http://www.gallup.com/poll/168821/uninsured-rate-drops.aspx
