3 postsRe: Topic 4 DQ 1

The method of delivery of health care along with regulatory control over the system differ from country to country. Cost-sharing required at point-of-service and range of benefits also vary globally. What is common is the incorporation of private insurance, but the importance varies considerably across nations (The Commonwealth Fund, 2019). According to the Commonwealth Fund’s new 11-country report, the “level of income defines the health care you receive far more in the United States than in other wealthy nations” (The Commonwealth Fund, 2019, para. 1). The study found that U.S. ranked last in providing equally accessible and high-quality health care, regardless of a person’s income. There have been great advances with access and coverage of health care in the U.S. due to the Affordable Care Act, but there are far too many Americans that continue to struggle with access to health care (The Commonwealth Fund, 2019).

The delivery of health care in the U.S. is comprised of a variety of public and private entities (Green, 2018). Government entities and in collaboration with community nonprofit organizations and faith-based organizations comprised the public health system. The private health settings include inpatient, outpatient, ambulatory, long-term care, mental health, home care, wellness center, and alternative care, which are regulated by the overarching governmental agencies (Green, 2018). Payment for medical services can by paid individually but the costs for services may not be feasible for most. Therefore, people rely on health care insurance, an arrangement with the government or private company, that will provide guarantee payment for health care services (Green, 2018). Whether private or public, the person must be eligible for these services. Either or, a person may accrue out-of-pocket costs. Although the percentage of uninsured people have decreased since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, there continues the existence of 28 million people who are uninsured in the U.S. as of 2017 (Berchick, 2018).

Studies have shown that physician-patient relationship that focused on quality and personalized preventive care resulted in positive health care expenditure outcomes and improved health management over a three-year time period (Musich, Wang, Hawkings, & Klemes, 2016). According to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the U.S. health care spending increased by 3.9 percent in 2017. This equates to $3.5 trillion or $10,739 per person. Much of the expenditures can be reduced when the focus of health is on prevention and not disease management.