Health Care Reform Essay -- Medical Medicine Essays

Health Care ReformINTRODUCTIONSeveral years ago, health care reform was a hot political topic with President Bill Clintons proposals to revolutionize medical health insurance. Even though his proposals didnt become law, sweeping changes are occurring within the health care system, particularly in regards to managed care health insurance and the reengineering of the hospital. The goals of these changes are to cut medical costs, make the delivery of health care more efficient, and to embolden rubber medicine, health, and primary care. While these changes are positive in many ways, they are also creating concerns among both the health care consumer and provider. These changes must be managed to spread over that high quality care remains at the forefront of medical care.MANAGED CARE HEALTH INSURANCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Managed care plans are the hurrying growing form of health insurance (Whigham-Desir, 1996). Sarah Glazer (1996) describes the concept of managed care The underlyin g principle of managed care is to keep the entire community healthy by providing preventive care, such as immunizations and mammograms, at little or no cost. In exchange for lower premiums, copayments and deductibles, the consumer agrees to see a limited group of physicians selected by the plan. The plan keeps costs down by limiting the consumers access to expensive specialists and procedures. Since three-fourths of Americans receive health insurance through their employer, managed care plans are graceful increasingly popular as both employer and employee seek to decrease medical care costs (Whigham-Desir, 1996).Managed care has been around since the 1930s when HMOs were formed to promote preventive medicine among doctors (Sprag... ...s its moral power. Health care is one of the most important aspects of society, and with the change taking place, it is paramount that it is a managed change which will benefit everyone. work CitedBennett Clark, Jane (1996, July). What you should ask your HMO. Kiplingers Personal Finance Magazine. pp. 92-93.Glazer, Sarah (1996, April 12). Managed Care. CQ Researcher, 6, 313-336.Koop, C. Everett (1996, Fall). Manage with care. Time. pp. 69.Larson, Erik (1996, January 22). The soul of an HMO. Time. pp. 44-52.Shortell, Stephen M. Gillies Robin R. & Devers, Kelly J. (1995, Summer). Reinventing the American hospital. The Milbank Quarterly. pp. 131-160.Spragins, Ellyn (1996, June 24). Does your HMO stack up? Newsweek. pp. 56-60.Whigham-Desir, Marjorie (1996, February). What to know about choosing an HMO. Black Enterprise. pp. 160-165.