Write a paper (1,000-2,000 words) on what you think should be included in a future reform
of the health care system, focusing on financial operating changes that would improve
efficiency and provide for improved transparency to the public. Include three to five
research/references to support your position.
Health Care Financial Reform Proposal
Introduction
Financial issues and reforms are the most sophisticated subject in health care based on
cost, flexibility, vulnerability, spur innovation and deteriorating federal budget. The financial
health care reform ought to reduce projected fiscal deficits, ensure comprehensive insurance
coverage at affordable and flexible cost. The analysis presented in this paper provides a set of
policies and strategies that focus specifically on how health care financial reforms can be
remodeled or modernized to deliver more quality services at affordable, flexible and inclusive
coverage Niessen & Rutten, 2000). Alongside strategies and policy proposal, health care reforms
budgetary neutrality options are provided to guarantee health care reform implementation. For a
comprehensive and incremental reform, focusing on individual-market reform, tax credits and
subsidies reform, universal vouchers and Medicare reforms proposal consideration would the
main themes analyzed (Halfon & Rodgers, 2014).
Although financial health care reforms are being considered as a work in progress, clear
health care reform outline is necessary is necessary to make the current health insurance more
HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL REFORM PROPOSAL 2
flexible and affordable. Financial health care reforms can be attained by combined reduction of
current public program expenditures such as Medicare and new revenues. Dissatisfied with the
current health care system, financing health care reforms can be obtained from traditional
savings especially be reducing the excessive relative cost on public program expenditures.
Traditional saving for health care financing reforms in public programs aims at reducing the cost
paid to health care providers such as clinician during health care delivery (Cissé & Moatti,
2007). Traditional saving enables effective allocation of resources for productivity improvement
and competitive bidding thereby reducing unnecessary health care expenditures. Similarly,
obtaining additional revenues outside and within health care reforms can assist in financing
health care reforms where additional funds are extracted from income-based organizations such
as alcohol and tobacco. Modernizing the healthcare delivery system through Medicare reform,
individual market reform and tax credits and subsidies promote effective health care reforms
based on payment savings. Health care modernization allows long-term cost saving, improved
quality of health care and shared savings based on administrative and operational efficiencies
(Cissé & Moatti, 2007).
Health system transformation based on improved infrastructure such as comparative
effective research and health information technology assist in the reduction of administrative and
operation spending to support health care systems. The health information technology has to
ensure payment reforms especially based on quality care and accountability. Besides,
comparative effective research federal funding has to ensure dissemination and measure of health
care information meet affordable and quality services (Cissé & Moatti, 2007). In this regard,
empowering health care consumers and health professionals to implement appropriate healthcare
decisions that repeal the current health care system filled with budget gimmicks, special interests
HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL REFORM PROPOSAL 3
handouts as well as increased tax. From the health care consumer’s perspective, financial health
care reform involves provision of price and quality health care reform information that create
cost-sharing adjustments to promote utilization of affordable and valuable health care services.
Similarly, professional health empowerment can be achieved through loosening restrictions
based on their scope of practice to promote full range utilization of skills and efficiency (Cissé &
Moatti, 2007).
Comparatively, transforming the payment systems to reward health care values over the
volume. Thus, the public will be provided with more heath choices at greater flexibility and
affordable costs. Consequently, modernizing the financial health systems would change the
nation health system from being too expensive and bureaucratic to provision more quality health
options. Medicare reform through payment innovations would create more opportunities such as
quality improvement and cost saving leading to raising more shares savings in the health sector
(Niessen & Rutten, 2000). According to the health reforms experts, payment innovations
achieved through the transformation of the payment system of health care based on rewards and
values encourage coordination and collaboration among the health professionals resulting in
regular public reporting, transparency, and accountability within the health care systems.
Besides, the innovative arrangement enables organizational reforms where there is widely
acceptance and adoption of a health Care financial reform proposal (Niessen & Rutten, 2000).
Protecting and preserving Medicare enable the majority of individuals living with
disabilities to access affordable health care sustainably. Therefore, granting greater choices of
health care for the future generation. Medicare services demand expansion at higher rates drag
the health care security at significant risks as the future health care cost would more inflexible
and unaffordable. Legislative implementation of Medicare Decision Accountability Act will
HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL REFORM PROPOSAL 4
ensure preservation and protection of the Medicare programs at minimum tax rates (Halfon &
Rodgers, 2014). Besides, it’s necessary to repeal the Independent Payment Advisory Board
(IPAB) decisions to cut down health care budget leading to political threats for the future
generations. Alternatively, simplifying the traditional health care policies (Medicare Program)
reduces administrative cost as well as promotes coordination of attention. Reducing the
traditional health care complexities by combining the health care programs parts into a single
deductible as well as uniform coinsurance enable preservation and protection of healthcare
programs (Cissé & Moatti, 2007).
Retargeting health care credits and subsidies to individuals who need it most especially
the poor generations’ increases health insurance coverage for the entire population.
Consequently, the government must address the impacts of the current health care policies on the
younger generations who save for their retirement benefits while raising their families based on
their tax subsidies and spending Niessen & Rutten, 2000). For this reason, resetting health
care(Medicare Program) eligibility age takes into account of demographic, social and economic
consideration where the average life expectancy for the entire population changes with time.
Resetting the health care programs based on eligibility age has to be accompanied by integration
of competitive and traditional health care programs into a single workable program. Thus, health
care financial reforms should be accompanied by an expansion of economic systems based on
intensive innovation and competition for health care plans. Besides, regional competitive bidding
would allow government contributions to roll or rebate funds to a health saving account thereby
allowing risk-adjustment mechanisms (Niessen & Rutten, 2000; Niessen & Rutten, 2000).
Conclusion
HEALTH CARE FINANCIAL REFORM PROPOSAL 5
The health care financial reform Proposal described above served as a turning point in
transforming the current health care system into affordable, flexible and innovate health care
reform. Therefore, adopting and implementing the proposed strategies and policies would be able
to reduce government regulations and bureaucracy into competing for health plan with new
benefits and opportunities. Besides, the proposed policies would stimulate progressive
improvement and innovation achieved through administrative and operational payment
manipulations. Lastly, the proposal would significantly eliminate special interest groups and
micromanagement that would likely to hinder the health care financial reform strategies and
policies.
References
Cissé, B., Luchini, S., & Moatti, J. P. (2007). Progressivity and horizontal equity in health care
finance and delivery: What about Africa?. Health policy, 80(1), 51-68.
Halfon, N., Long, P., Chang, D. I., Hester, J., Inkelas, M., & Rodgers, A. (2014). Applying a 3.0
transformation framework to guide large-scale health system reform. Health Affairs,
33(11), 2003-2011.
Niessen, L. W., Grijseels, E. W., & Rutten, F. F. (2000). The evidence-based approach in health
policy and health care delivery. Social science & medicine, 51(6), 859-869.