Health Care Reform Essay -- Medical Medicine Essays

Health Care Reform INTRODUCTION Several years ago, health care reform was a hot political topic with President Bill Clinton's proposals to revolutionize medical health insurance. Even though his proposals didn't 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 promote preventive 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 insure that high quality care remains at the forefront of medical care. MANAGED CARE HEALTH INSURANCE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT Managed care plans are the fastest growing form of health insurance (Whigham-Desir, 1996). Sarah Glazer (1996) describes the concept of managed care: "The underlying 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 consumer's access to expensive specialists and procedures." Since three-fourths of Americans receive health insurance through their employer, managed care plans are becoming 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. Works Cited: Bennett Clark, Jane (1996, July). What you should ask your HMO. Kiplinger's 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.