Healthcare Spending Research Paper

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Healthcare Spending Paper Glenda Fambro HCS 440 Kristin Mc Farland December 17, 2012 Healthcare and the money that the United States currently spends on healthcare are some of the most pressing issues in today’s current economy. Some say that the U.S. is spending too much money on healthcare including the insurance coverage of illegal immigrants, while others argue that the U.S. is not spending enough money to prevent disease and cure diseases that are costly to treat. The United States one of the highest levels of spending among other established countries in fact the U.S. spends more per capita than any other country. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation (2011), “It is reasonably well known that the United States spends more per…show more content…
I feel that is difficult to judge or say what is exactly is too much money to be spent on healthcare. Although the certain rates of healthcare spending are rising it could be possible that healthcare is just moving towards the spending level that it should be. When we compare the amount of money spent years ago we have to consider that times and technology have changed. In the 30’s and 40’s there was no money spending on thinks like computers in order to utilize Electronic Medical Records. More spending should be invested into drug research and finding cheaper was to cure diseases. There are some areas that we should review however such as the amount of money spent on hospital cost. According to Martin A.B. et al, current spending for hospital cost accounts for 31% of the total healthcare cost in the United States. This amount is extremely high and if more money is spent towards technology to offer less evasive surgeries and procedures the recovery time for patients may shorten and the cost of hospital stays could decrease. This brings the question if enough money is being spent on keeping individuals healthy and offering preventative care in order to keep individuals out of the hospital all…show more content…
This includes the Medicare plan in which individuals 65 and over or those that are disabled are covered. The government also offers services through the Medicaid plans which are partially funded by the state and the federal government but run by the state’s government. Of the $2.1 trillion spent on health care, hospital and physician services account 52 percent of total expenditures, while spending on other personal health care accounts for 32 percent. According to the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (2001), by payer source, public funds, including Medicare and Medicaid, account for 46 percent of health spending. This leaves most spending financed by the private sector through private health insurance and out-of-pocket costs. The healthcare system is currently evolving and there are several areas that will help to control the cost of healthcare. One area would be the use of services other than physicians. These can include nurses and physicians assistants who are able to provide healthcare services that are on the lower level of intensity. NP are running more walk in clinics like those inside locate drug store, these services are becoming a better option for patients instead of going into Emergency Rooms where services are more

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