Medicine Assignment Paper on Analysis of Health Care Reform

Analysis of Health Care Reform
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Analysis of Health Care Reform
The current healthcare system in America has received a lot of criticism from people who claim that it is too expensive and offers low-quality treatment to patients especially in the ER and patients suffering from chronic illnesses. Unlike other countries which have a universal health care coverage where each citizen can afford treatment, the US delivers healthcare privately even if it is publicly funded. The cost of treatment in America is high as statistics suggest that each pays two times more than other individuals in other developed countries. The quality of the care is also in question as hospitals have concentrated on the provision of episodic care rather than providing the continuum of care for patients who are terminally ill. This has in turn led to high prices as most people cannot afford to go to the hospital now and then. They should be provided with the continuum of care to ensure that their long-term illnesses are taken good care of at a lower price.
The current healthcare system should be regarded as an example of market failure and at the same time needs government intervention. Market failure is often described as a situation where the allocation of goods and services is inefficient. In this case, the health care system has been unable to provide affordable treatment for all citizens. The government should intervene and develop a similar healthcare system to other developed countries whereby citizens are insured by the government. It should also ensure that every patient receives quality medical care at a lower price (Goodman, 2012). People are losing their lives simply because they cannot afford medical care. It is important to note th...