Executive summary
The year 2021 is anticipated to bring significant transformation to the healthcare sector in the United States. The current healthcare system needs and would benefit greatly from reforms that will enhance access, cost, and equity. The article offers suggestions for the new administration regarding healthcare financing and delivery. Among these are efforts to streamline healthcare delivery, accelerate the adoption of value-based payment models, and clarify diagnostic and treatment options. The authors also recommend that the next government ensure low-income people have better access to healthcare and that funds are dispersed fairly. The book advises high-ranking politicians and their appointees on how to accomplish each goal. These ideas could be used as a jumping-off point for formulating evidence-based policies to improve the efficiency, equity, and quality of the U.S. healthcare system. This analysis is a part of the National Academy of Medicine’s Crucial Directions for Health and Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative. It offers consensus-based policy recommendations focused on health costs & financing, drawing on the authors’ combined experience in health financing, healthcare delivery, and healthcare innovation. The National Academy of Medicine has published this commentary as part of its Vital Directions for Health & Health Care: Priorities for 2021 initiative. The five policy areas our ideas are arranged around are increasing insurance coverage, accelerating the transition to value-based care, expanding home-based care, decreasing the high cost of pharmaceuticals and other therapies, and training a high-value workforce. The paper presents recommendations for important elected officials and political appointees that can serve as hopping places for evidence based policy-making to aid a more effective, efficient, and equitable health system in the United States. These recommendations are organized according to each priority.
The issue/objective
The United States is currently amid a healthcare crisis that has resulted in growing costs and a reduction in the number of people covered by insurance. According to the CDC, the United States will have the highest healthcare costs in the world in 2019. This will amount to $3.8 trillion (Shrank et al., 2021). This situation has been made worse by several factors, including the prohibitive cost of prescription drugs, the absence of viable alternatives to public health insurance, and the opaque nature of the health care system. Consequently, Americans have a harder time affording the care they need because the costs of providing health care are increasing at rates that cannot be maintained. An aging population and a rise in the prevalence of chronic illnesses also contribute to increased healthcare costs (Shrank et al., 2021). This paper presents the incoming government with policy recommendations supported by research that will help reduce healthcare expenditures while increasing access to care.
The necessity of making a choice
The decision that needs to be made is how to reduce healthcare costs best and increase access to care for all Americans. The article outlines various strategies to address healthcare financing challenges, from reducing prescription drug costs to increasing healthcare system transparency and expanding public health insurance options. It also emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships in helping to achieve these goals. Ultimately, the authors argue that a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach is necessary to ensure access to quality and affordable health care in the U.S.
To address these problems, the National Academy of Medicine has initiated a project called Excellent Directions for Health & Medical Care: Priorities for 2021. This project continues the Crucial Directions for Health & Health Care initiative, which was announced in 2016. (Shrank et al., 2021). This article presents a variety of suggestions for public policy that the author has developed based on their knowledge of healthcare funding, delivery, and innovation. Our recommendations for improving the quality of the U.S. healthcare system are based on accessibility, affordability, and equality (Shrank et al., 2021).
The expected outcome of the decision is that healthcare costs will be reduced and access to care will be increased for all Americans. This can be achieved by employing a comprehensive, multi-pronged approach that includes reducing prescription drug costs, increasing transparency in the healthcare system, expanding public health insurance options, and leveraging public-private partnerships. This approach will help ensure access to quality and affordable health care in the United States, which is essential to providing Americans with the care they need.
Define the solution and how you reached the solution.
The solution to the healthcare crisis in the United States is a comprehensive approach that includes reducing prescription drug costs, increasing transparency in the healthcare system, and expanding public health insurance options. This solution was reached by analyzing the current landscape of healthcare spending in the United States and the policy options available to the new presidential administration to reduce costs and increase access to care for all Americans. The authors also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships in helping to achieve these goals.
The call to action for the new presidential administration is to implement a comprehensive strategy to reduce healthcare costs and increase access to care for all Americans. This strategy should include reducing prescription drug costs, increasing transparency in the healthcare system, and expanding public health insurance options. Additionally, public-private partnerships should be leveraged to help achieve these goals. The new presidential administration can ensure all Americans have access to quality and affordable health care by taking these measures.
Recommendations
Access: One recommendation based on the article is to increase access to care for all Americans. This could be achieved by expanding public health insurance options and increasing transparency in the health care system. Public-private partnerships could also help make care more accessible, such as through programs that provide subsidies to those who cannot afford health care coverage.
Costs: Another recommendation based on the article is to reduce healthcare costs. This could be done by reducing prescription drug costs, increasing rivalry in the healthcare market, and incentivizing providers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care. The article also mentions the importance of public-private partnerships in helping to achieve these goals, such as through programs that provide subsidies to healthcare providers.
Quality: Finally, the article recommends improving the quality of health care. This could be done by increasing transparency in the healthcare system, increasing competition in the healthcare market, and providing incentives for providers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care. Public-private partnerships could also be used to improve the quality of care, such as through programs that incentivize providers to use evidence-based practices.
Equity: The article also recommends increasing equity in health care. This could be done by expanding public health insurance options and increasing transparency in the health care system. Public-private partnerships could also help make care more accessible, such as through programs that provide subsidies to those who cannot afford health care coverage. Furthermore, incentivizing providers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care would ensure all Americans have access to the care they need.
The 5 Vital Policy Priorities
Expand Insurance Coverage: The first policy priority in the article is to expand insurance coverage. This could be accomplished by expanding public health insurance options, such as Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and increasing subsidies for those who purchase insurance on the exchanges. Additionally, the article suggests that the new administration should encourage states to expand their Medicaid programs and extend eligibility for subsidies to those who earn more than 400% of the federal poverty level (Shrank et al., 2021).
Reduce Prescription Drug Costs: The second policy priority in the article is to reduce prescription drug costs. The new administration should focus on increasing competition in the prescription drug market by allowing the importation of drugs from other countries and encouraging generic drug use. Additionally, the administration should work to increase transparency in the drug pricing system and provide incentives for manufacturers to reduce prices.
Increase Transparency in the Health Care System: The third policy priority in the article is to increase transparency in the health care system. The authors suggest that the new administration should focus on increasing the availability of comparative cost and quality information for healthcare services and implementing price transparency policies. The article also argues that the administration should work to reduce administrative burdens and provide incentives for providers to reduce costs.
Promote Public-Private Partnerships: The article’s fourth policy priority is promoting public-private partnerships. The new administration should focus on increasing collaboration between public and private entities to increase access to care, reduce costs, and improve quality. The article also argues that the administration should incentivize providers to participate in public-private partnerships and adopt new payment models that reward quality rather than quantity care.
Advance Home-Based Care: The article’s fifth policy priority is promoting home-based care. The authors suggest that the new administration should focus on expanding access to home-based care, such as telemedicine, and providing incentives for providers to deliver home-based care. Additionally, the article argues that the administration should work to increase awareness of the benefits of home-based care and the availability of services and support the development of innovative home-based care models.
Fostering a high-value workforce in our organizations
The success of the healthcare system depends on the quality of its employees. The incoming administration should support policies including prioritizing primary care, investing in workforce training & education, and expanding the use of care teams to raise the quality of the labor force. Our companies require an all-encompassing plan to attract talented people. To ensure their employees have the skills necessary to offer excellent care, businesses must first determine what those skills are. Recognizing and developing your most valuable abilities is essential to your success. The healthcare business is always changing; therefore, the company’s training and education programs need to evolve to keep up. Businesses should encourage interdisciplinary caregiving teams. Promote and acknowledge high-quality medical service, offer constructive criticism and assistance, and encourage teamwork and communication between different fields (Shrank et al., 2021). Finally, corporations should invest money into data-driven decision-making and technology to improve clinical decision-making and treatment delivery.
H.R.’s ideas help to reduce turnover
- Injecting more funds to training and development that works. Training and seminars in areas such as customer service, management, and communication can greatly benefit an organization’s bottom line and the morale of its staff.
- Improve the working environment. A positive work environment leads to a low turnover rate. Businesses should try to create a welcoming environment where all employees are valued and may reach their full potential. Several ways to achieve this goal include enhancing dialogue, teamwork, and appreciation.
- Provide Flexible employee Working Conditions. Businesses must allow for telecommuting and other forms of remote work. This allows individuals to feel appreciated at work and in their personal lives.
- Provide Competitive Pay and Benefits Providing competitive pay and benefits might help reduce employee turnover. In today’s competitive job environment, offering competitive pay and benefits is a must.
There needs to be a focus on attracting top medical professionals to healthcare systems. Finding the right individuals requires job analysis, job design, recruiting, selection, and retention. The healthcare system can benefit from the future government adopting these H.R. ideas since attracting and retaining top talent will be easier.
Conclusion
Indeed, health is a crucial factor in all works of life. The new administration has the opportunity to make changes that could dramatically improve the healthcare system in the United States. By expanding insurance coverage, reducing prescription drug costs, increasing transparency in the health care system, promoting public-private partnerships, and advancing home-based care, the administration could ensure all Americans have access to quality and affordable health care. Ultimately, these strategies could reduce costs and improve the quality of care for all.
References
Shrank, W. H., DeParle, N.-A., Gottlieb, S., Jain, S. H., Orszag, P., Powers, B. W., & Wilensky, G. R. (2021). Health costs and financing: Challenges and strategies for a new administration. Health Affairs, 40(2), 235–242. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.01560
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