Healthcare System the American Healthcare

Healthcare System

The American healthcare system has been considered the best in the world for both innovation and quality of care for the past 100 years (Field 2007). While greater government and private intervention has entered into the overall healthcare industry, the current level or regulation has succeeded in creating an environment of increased confidence and assurance in the quality of the industry (Field 2007). Regardless of the past regulation, Americans and the world are at odds over the effect of current regulation set to come into effect beginning in 2013 (Jackson 2011). In fact, many speculate was to the total negative impact of socialized medicine on the current free market style of American medicine. In order to properly evaluate the future of American healthcare one must consider the past and future quality, future reimbursement issues, policy concerns.

The first factor to consider when evaluating the future of healthcare is to evaluate the past healthcare quality within American society. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the healthcare industry as a whole is still steadily growing as of 2011. In fact, as of 2008 the healthcare industry provided 14.3 million jobs and is projected to create 3.2 million new wage and salary jobs between now and 2018. The quality of care for patients when compared to Canada, a neighboring developed country reveals the true quality of American healthcare. According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the waiting times in American for surgeries such as knee replacements were drastically shorter to those in Canada (Coyte 1994). Overall, it is apparent that the American system of healthcare has a rich history of quality.

Looking to future, however, these trends are already weining. According to a report by ABC news there are growing shortages of important drugs including those used for chemotherapy, anesthetics and antibiotics. According to the report, the shortages have already led to 15 deaths. The reason for the shortages, an inability for drug manufacturers to accurately report shortages and seek temporary regulatory relief (Allen 2011). In other words, the increased regulation of the Food and Drug Administration is causing too great a burden on drug manufacturers without a way to seek relief from that burden.

The next issue for consideration in the medical industry is reimbursement. Under the current private sector system, doctors and hospitals seek reimbursement from insurance companies equivalent to the care given to patients. While many insurance companies may have limits in place, those limits are easily raised when requested by doctors (Maschue 2012). Under the current Medicare and Medicaid plans, however, the government sets specific amounts that doctors and hospitals may bill and any amount over that will not be paid. This limit leads to many doctors refusing to accept government patients or reducing the amount of care for those patients (Maschue 2012). So, reimbursement of physicians is directly related to the quality of care for patients.