Various healthcare reforms have been put across the country. My proposed healthcare reform includes provider network expansion, a critical constituent of any inclusive healthcare reform plan. Many underserved areas, mainly in rural and remote locations, undergo limited access to healthcare providers, leading to differences in health outcomes and higher healthcare costs. Increasing the network of healthcare providers in these areas can aid in addressing these matters by snowballing access to care and refining health outcomes for populations. Various strategies can be used to expand the provider network. These strategies include investing in training programs encouraging healthcare professionals to practice in underserved areas (King, 2020). This can comprise loan repayment programs, scholarships, and other inducements to attract and retain healthcare providers in these areas. In addition, efforts to increase the number of healthcare providers from understated communities can expand cultural competency and decrease health disparities. Additionally, the application of telehealth and other technologies to connect patients with healthcare providers remotely is another strategy to increase the provider network. This can be predominantly operative in rural or remote areas where patients may travel long distances to receive care. Telehealth can also connect patients with specialists who may not be accessible locally, improving access to expert care.
Conflicts between Existing Federal and State Policies
As stated earlier, provider network expansion is a significant aspect of healthcare reform that aims to advance access to healthcare services for underserved populations. However, conflicts between existing federal and state policies can make it hard to implement operative provider network expansion programs. At the federal level, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was developed by the Health Insurance Marketplace, which offers customers access to reasonable health insurance plans that cover important health benefits. The ACA also implemented the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation, which funds and tests ground-breaking healthcare delivery models. These national strategies have increased access to healthcare services but do not always align with state policies (Keisler-Starkey, & Bunch, 2020). At the state level, healthcare strategies are frequently fashioned by state governments’ political and economic urgencies. States have the authority to control health insurance markets, and many have selected to implement strategies that limit access to healthcare services. For instance, some states have moved out of Medicaid expansion, limiting access to healthcare services for low-income residents.
These conflicting policies can lead to challenges for provider network expansion initiatives. For instance, if a state has not expanded Medicaid, it may be hard to find a strong provider network that serves low-income residents. Moreover, if a state has applied strategies that limit access to healthcare services, it may be hard to recruit healthcare suppliers to work in underserved zones (King, 2020). There are various solutions to these challenges, including establishing federal policies that incentivise states to increase access to healthcare services. For instance, the federal government could provide money for provider network expansion initiatives that serve underserved populations. This funding could be conditional on states implementing strategies that support healthcare access, such as Medicaid enlargement and the acceptance of telehealth services. Additionally, it would be important to work with states to progressive policies that align with federal healthcare objectives. This could encompass working with state governments to recognize zones of need and advance strategies to expand access to healthcare services in those zones. It could also encompass offering technical assistance and resources to aid states in implementing strategies that support healthcare access.
Standard of Care Approach
The Standard of Care Approach (SOC) refers to an inclusive method of healthcare that includes numerous facets of a patient’s life, including family support, nutrition, and spirituality. This approach centres on treating the patient as complete rather than just treating their illness. In contrast, the current method applied in suggested provider network expansion healthcare reform primarily centres on increasing the network of healthcare providers to guarantee all and sundry has admittance to healthcare (Olson et al., 2019). The SOC approach identifies that health is swayed by numerous features, such as a patient’s family support, diet and nutrition, and spirituality. For instance, proper nutrition can aid in averting and managing lasting diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. At the same time, family support can offer emotional and practical assistance to patients during illness. Spirituality can also play a part in a patient’s general well-being, aiding them to cope with illness and advance their mental health. In contrast, the suggested provider network expansion healthcare reform principally centres on increasing access to healthcare providers, such as doctors and nurses, to guarantee everyone access to care. While this method is vital, it overlooks that healthcare is not just about offering medical treatment but also addressing the social determinants of health that can sway a patient’s health outcomes.
The SOC method identifies that healthcare is multifaceted and necessitates a multidisciplinary method beyond medical treatment. For instance, a patient with diabetes may necessitate not only medication but also education on lifestyle modifications, dietary counselling, and emotive support from their family (Olson et al., 2019). By taking an inclusive approach to care, the SOC approach can advance health outcomes and decrease the general cost of healthcare by addressing the core causes of health problems rather than just treating the signs. In contrast, the current approach applied in projected provider network expansion healthcare reform primarily centres on expanding access to medical treatment. While this is significant, it does not address the social determinants of health that can sway a patient’s health outcomes. For instance, a patient living in a food desert may not have access to healthy food selections, which can lead to long-lasting diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Increasing access to healthcare providers may not address this subject, so an inclusive method comprising nutrition education and support is indispensable.
Public Health Preparedness
There are various ways in which the reform can ensure that the public is prepared. One of the significant ways this healthcare reform plan promotes public health preparedness is by snowballing access to healthcare in underserved zones. These zones may encompass inner-city neighbourhoods, rural communities, and other places with a shortage of healthcare providers and limited access to medical services. By expanding the network of healthcare suppliers in these zones, more individuals will have admittance to routine medical care, preventative services, and expert care. This can aid in advancing health outcomes, decrease healthcare costs, and guarantee that individuals get timely treatment for illnesses. Additionally, increasing the network of healthcare suppliers can also aid in building a robust healthcare workforce, which is indispensable for public health preparedness. Healthcare workers are on the front lines of the response determination during public health emergencies, such as disease outbreaks and natural disasters. By growing the number of healthcare suppliers in underserved zones, this healthcare reform plan can aid in building a stronger, stronger healthcare workforce that is better equipped to react to emergencies.
Another imperative facet of public health preparedness is guaranteeing that healthcare systems have the necessary resources to react to emergencies (Keisler-Starkey, & Bunch, 2020). This comprises medical supplies, equipment, facilities, and an adequate number of healthcare workers. By increasing the network of healthcare providers, this healthcare reform plan can guarantee that healthcare systems have the resources they prerequisite to react to emergencies, decreasing the strain on the healthcare system and improving the overall response effort. In addition to growing access to healthcare and erecting a stronger healthcare workforce, the provider network expansion healthcare reform plan can also aid in advancing the quality of care people receive. By expanding the network of healthcare suppliers, more individuals will have access to expert medical care, such as mental health services, speciality care, and other medical services that may not be available in their local communities. This can aid in advancing health outcomes and decrease the prerequisite for costly emergency care. As a final point, the provider network expansion healthcare reform plan can aid in endorsing health equity, an indispensable facet of public health preparedness. Health equity means that everyone has an equal prospect of accomplishing good health, regardless of race, ethnicity, income and other factors. By increasing the network of healthcare suppliers in underserved zones, this healthcare reform plan can guarantee that everyone has admittance to the medical care they require to accomplish good health, irrespective of where they live or their socioeconomic status.
Proposed Gross Domestic Product for Health Care
Determining the percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) that should be set aside for healthcare can be a multifaceted matter, as it hinges on a diversity of aspects, such as the nation’s overall health needs, the accessibility of healthcare services, and the price of delivering those services. Conversely, as a general guideline, most industrialized nations allocate between 8% and 12% of their GDP to healthcare. In the United States, healthcare spending presently accounts for around 17% of GDP, meaningfully higher than most developed nations. This high level of spending is due to a diversity of influences, such as the high cost of medical services, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and the lack of a universal healthcare system (Keisler-Starkey, & Bunch, 2020). To address these matters, the country should allocate about 20% of the country’s GDP. This would offer additional funding for medical research, public health initiatives, and extended access to medical services. However, it is significant to note that simply allocating a higher percentage of GDP to healthcare is insufficient to address the healthcare system’s multifaceted matters. Other reforms, such as refining healthcare delivery systems, expanding admittance to preventative care, and addressing health disparities, are also essential to advance overall health outcomes and decrease healthcare costs. In addition, it is significant to guarantee that healthcare spending is utilized professionally and efficiently and targeted towards the areas of greatest requisite. This necessitates careful monitoring, planning, and evaluation of healthcare programs and services and ongoing determinations to advance the quality of care and reduce healthcare waste.
In conclusion, various healthcare reforms have been put across the country. My proposed healthcare reform includes provider network expansion, a critical constituent of any inclusive healthcare reform plan. While the proposed provider network expansion healthcare reform is indispensable, it should not overlook the significance of an inclusive approach to care that addresses the social determinants of health. Through swelling access to healthcare, building a stronger healthcare workforce, refining the quality of care, and promoting health equity, this healthcare reform plan can aid in guaranteeing that all and sundry have access to the medical care they prerequisite to attain good health and respond to public health emergencies. This is an imperative step in promoting public health and guaranteeing that everyone has the prospect of living a healthy, fulfilling life.
References
Keisler-Starkey, K., & Bunch, L. N. (2020). Health insurance coverage in the United States: 2019. Washington, DC: US Census Bureau.
King, J. S. (2020). Covid-19 and the need for health care reform. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(26), e104.
Olson, R., Senan, S., Harrow, S., Gaede, S., Louie, A., Haasbeek, C., … & Palma, D. (2019). Quality of life outcomes after stereotactic ablative radiation therapy (SABR) versus standard of care treatments in the oligometastatic setting: A secondary analysis of the SABR-COMET randomized trial. International Journal of Radiation Oncology* Biology* Physics, 105(5), 943-947.
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