Health Policy Analysis Paper

[Name of the Institute]Contents

Introduction1

Problem Statement1

Objectives2

Analysis of US Health Care Policies2

Health Policy Issues2

Health Insurance3

Development of Medicare and Medicaid Programs4

Pharmaceutical Policy6

The Health Security Act7

Current State7

Health care Reform8

National Health Insurance (NHI) Program9

Barriers to Effective Federal Action9

Conclusion11

Recommendations11

References13

Health Policy Analysis Paper

Introduction

Health policy is a challenging problem across the globe. In United States of America, it is specifically more challenging due to the fact that there exists no consent about which social institution or governmental agency has the legal responsibility of implementing or developing national policy for health. The constitution of Health is silent on the issue of health and health care. Health care powers are not assigned specifically in the constitution to the federal government.

This report focuses on the challenges and irregularities of US health care policies that the US health care department faces. The US needs to strengthen its current public policies for the sector of health care. US can improve health on its own land along with improving it abroad by adequate investment and fresh policy on implementation, coordination and sustaining of health care issues.

Problem Statement

Health care policy making in United States of America is quite pluralistic in nature. Policy decisions are typically made at various levels of society in US. These multi levels include federal government, local and state governments, institutions of health care, payer organizations that include insurers and employers, provider professionals and individuals or consumers. This enormous fragmentation has become a barrier towards developing a synchronized health care policy for US. An unusual aspect of US's health care is the low level of impact that professionals of health usually have on the formulation of policy. Health professional typically focus on what the policy makers are doing for the department of health rather than giving their input and contribution to the policy making process.

Objectives

A US health care policy requires to be developed that provides health care to each and every citizen of US irrespective of his socioeconomic status, race, religion, caste, creed and other such reasons.

Analysis of US Health Care Policies

Health Policy Issues

The US has had a rapid rate of inflation in the costs related to health care services without attending improvements in the crucial indicators of health such as life expectancy and infant mortality. The main reason for this inflation is the increased international competition for employments.

Increasing costs of health care, minimized amount of insurance coverage of health care that is based on employments, and variations in the composition of labor force have merged to make access to health care and its insurance extremely difficult. In 1990s, there occurred several positive changes in this respect. These variations include the immense reduction of expenditures on national health care programs. By the year 1999, spending on the health care sector was around 25% lower as compared to historic rates of growth. During these years, the US benefitted from reduced rates of spending in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Health Insurance

There are a few irregularities in health insurance of US. As consumers receive greater coverage for insurance as an ...