Federal Programs to Increase Health Care Access to Underserved Americans

Abstract

This research paper cracks down on the programs of Federal Government of United States in order to amplify the access to the services of health care for underserved citizens of America. These strategies are termed as health care reforms. These reforms execute an imperative function bringing required alterations in present regulations of health care with the purpose of improving services of health care supplied to unprivileged inhabitants of America. There are several stakeholders who are in charge for planning required reforms and are directly exaggerated during these actions. They take account of; Government, providers of Health care services, and Citizens. This research paper will reveal major strategies which are discussed and analyzed in health care reforms.

Federal Programs to Increase Health Care Access to Underserved Americans

Introduction

This research paper concentrates on Health care Reforms proposed by the Federal Government. The reforms by means of which government begins, modifies or talks about the guiding principles on the subject of health care of a state/the social order are identified as “Health care Reforms”. Health care modifications are started with an intention of amplifying the ease of use and ease of access of services of health care to underserved Americans.

Historical and Current Status of Healthcare Reforms

Legislation of health care initiated with the beginning of Medicare by Lyndon Johnson in 1965. After that in 1985, through COBRA, changes were completed ERISA of 1974. In recent times, President Obama approved the protection of patient and reasonably priced care act which was concentrated on getting rid of most horrible work outs given by indemnity firms.

At present, Health Care expenditure is more or less 18% of GDP approximately, and it is estimated that this tendency will get higher in the future. By 2040, this would arrive at 36% of GDP approximately if counteractive measures are not acquired in forthcoming transformations. This picture bestows with a dare for government and individuals as well who are indemnified for health. A large amount of health care expenses are subsidized by the financial plan of the Federal Government and this development keeps on to get higher; Medicare and Medicaid expenditures will mount by just about 15% approximately in next 25 years. Significance of this issue can be further analyzed by the fact that around 46 million U.S' citizens are without health insurance, and this would certainly rise in the next couple of decade (Executive office of the president council of economic advisers, 2009).

Discussion

Key Issues related to Healthcare Reforms

Healthcare Rationing

Other major issues such as healthcare coverage are inter-related with the concept of Healthcare Rationing. Rationing can be described as an allocation of scare resources. In terms of healthcare, it means providing healthcare services to those individuals who have the ability to pay for services. Rationing is allocated by insurance firms based to individual's salary range, type of employment, etc. Rationing is also done based on price, or in other words, based on the ability to pay. Rationing is also allocated by governments; this is where ...