Describe How to Cut the Cost of Health Treatments

How to Cut the Cost of Health Treatments
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Introduction
High health care costs pose a challenge towards providing adequate care in the US, and there have been various suggestions on the best ways to lower the cost of health treatments. Improving access to healthcare and the supply of medications are some of the ways to reduce the cost of medications, and drugs remain a major component of health care costs. Health practitioners focus on providing high-value care efficiently, but costs affect their ability to provide adequate care. Involving various health stakeholders in healthcare interventions to improve health provision and reducing the cost of health treatments is potentially effective to have a long-term positive impact. Analyzing how hospital procedures are carried out, reducing cases of hospitalization, focus on value-conscious prescribing, and promoting drug competition are effective strategies to reducing hospital costs and treatments without affecting efficiency.
Analyze the procedures that are carried out
* Repeated, duplicate tests can be expensive and increase the cost of treatment, yet some of the tests or procedures are unnecessary.
* Performing tests during hospitalization rather than in outpatient setting as this reduces costs related to hospital care as are there is access to supplies.
* To find savings opportunities, there is a need for effective tracking systems to determine whether certain treatments are expensive and inefficient. Physicians need access to updated information to make decisions.
Managing cases of hospitalization
* Escalating drug prices are a problem in the US, and managing hospitalization is a top priority where there is focus on patient-centered care.
* Reducing the rate of hospitalization is one way to cut the cost of a treatment since patients use healthcare services when necessary, and combined with innovation, the interventions are based on best evidence available.
* Implementing care protocols helps to improve patient safety since there are few or no unnecessary hospitalizations, and the most effective treatments are utilized.
Track quality measures and making corrections
* Improving the quality of the processes that lead to problems such as infections improves health outcomes and safety, an...