Government Role
In the United States, a significant number of the current
population is uninsured. Reducing that number is critical to maintaining a
healthy population. The federal government plays a large role in healthcare and
sets the standards, regulations, and policies. In most industries, market-based
competition is the primary incentive for sellers to maximize the quality of
their product or service and to limit the cost. This is true to a much more
limited degree in healthcare.
In the discussion forum, consider the following:
What is the government’s role in healthcare? How does the
government impact healthcare organizations?
How does health insurance impact healthcare delivery?
How can we reduce the number of uninsured people while
maximizing quality and access and minimizing costs?
Website: The White House (2013) Health Reform in Action
Explore this site for the timeline of health reform, recent
healthcare news from the White House, and other resources about healthcare
reform.
Library Article: Public and Private Sector Roles in Health
Information Technology Policy: Insights From the Implementation and Operation
of Exchange Efforts in the United States
This is a journal article discussing the optimal roles for
the public and private sectors in health information technology (HIT) and
health information exchange (HIE) policy development and implementation. As you
read, consider the following:
What is the government’s role in healthcare technology?
Are federal and state HIT policies mutually supportive?
Article: CNN Health: A Brief History of Government and
Health Care
This is a brief history/timeline of U.S. government
involvement in healthcare. Click on the timeline to read about the history of
government in healthcare. As you read, consider the following: How has the role
of the government changed since 1912?
