International Vs. US Health Care Systems

International and US Health Care Systems

Question one

Socialized medicine refers to a system of health care for all citizens of a country/state at a subsidized cost. Socialized Medicine is normally financed and provided by government means derived from taxation under health care regulation. Germany is an example of a country that has socialized medicine system. The country started implementing socialized medicine system in 1941. It offers insurance mandate plan services to its citizens. Insurance mandate plan is a government policy to allow all citizens purchase insurance from private, public or non-profit insurers. However, the German government regulates the numbers players in the country’s insurance sector. Recent statistics show that average life expectancy of Germany is 80.74 years. This is aggregately higher compared to 77 years average life expectancy of the United States. (Source: Armstrong 57)

There are reasons as to why the life expectancy of Germany is higher compared to that of the United States as recent statistics suggest. For instance, the United States’ deaths statistics have increased due to widespread possession of firearms. This has resulted in an increase in number of violent deaths among Americans. Other factors that explain the drop of life expectancy age in the United States include the high death rate brought about by smoking related diseases, heart attack and obesity related deaths. This happens even though people in the United States spend more on health care compared to Germany among other developed countries. This years’ healthcare national budget expenditure of the United States is 31% of the country’s gross domestic product. Germany’s budget is 11.1% of the county’s gross domestic product. This clearly shows how the United States is the highest ranked country in healthcare expenditure in the world (Wilson 29). However, the country’s health policies account among the reasons of the low life expectancy compared to other high income earning countries such as Germany.

Question two

Medicare refers to a federal health insurance policy targeting people of 65 years and older. It also includes people with disabilities and those suffering end-stage renal diseases (Armstrong 14). Part A is the hospital insurance enacted in 1965 when Lyndon B. Johnson was the president of the United States of America. It covers nursing facility, home care and inpatient hospital stay. Part B covers outpatient care, preventive services and medical supplies. Part C constitutes to the medical advantage plans. These are medical contracts of private companies with all the benefits of part A and B. Part D constitutes to the prescription drug coverage that defines the Medicare cost plans. However, even with the enactment of Medicare, life expectancy at birth in the United States as per 2010 was at 76.2 years.

Question three

Health maintenance organization is an insurance plan that limits care coverage for doctors who are under contract with HMO (Watson 34). It became popular in the United States in 1973, the year it was enacted (Watson 35). Basically, Heath Maintenance Organization HMO does not cover out-of-network care except in an emergency. However, it provides integrated care on focus to wellness and prevention.

Question four

Medicaid refers to an insurance program for individuals and low-income families. The program serves all people and families under the defined bracket with a little difference (Watson 7). People with disabilities are also included in Medicaid. Tax funds are one of the government sources used to finance Medicaid insurance program which was enacted on July 30, 1965. Average benefits do not vary from state to state in the US due to the unequal number of people defined under the Medicaid bracket. For instance, the number of Medicaid needy people in New York State is not the same with that of California. Although there have been some criticism, the program is currently financially stable. The affordable care act (ACA) could have an effect of Medicaid in that it may hinder its financing; hence, the program is relevant.

Question five

Organ transplantation refers to a surgical procedure of replacing a diseased or failing organ with a healthier donor organ. Common organ transplantations are done on kidney, liver, heart and lung. In the United States, there is no specified length period for a person to receive a heart transplant. However, it could range from days to months. Depending on the condition and the urgency of the patient, transplants pose various ethical concerns. This is because of the nature they are carried out and the condition of life of the people that receive organ transplants. The cost of transplants in the United States depends on various factors. They include: organ type, hospital, insurance deductions and follow-up care testing. For example, a heart transplant could cost about $ 47 for pre transplant testing, $ 634 for hospital admission and $316 for other cost totaling to about $997 for a the whole process.

Question six

Health insurance/information portability and accountability Act (HIPAA) is a security and privacy bill enacted in 1996 by president bill Clinton (Watson 13). The bill sets up the national standards and protects health information for all people who are involved in electronic and associate business. (HIPAA) regulation was formed for two reasons. They are the title sections that address the specific health and security aspects. These are portability and accountability. Under portability, the policy sets up an insurance platform for all business associates who deal with transporting electronics and accessories. Under accountability the policy act takes care of the health issues of electronics dealers with focus to privacy and administration. The legislation of HIPAA act has helped many individuals in the United States since its inclusion.

Question seven

The death and dignity act of 1997, also referred to as the Oregon, is an Act that allows terminally ill Oregonians to end their lives through voluntary self administration. The act requires that all information of a deceased person be collected and a formal report be compiled by a physician. An annual statistical report is to be published and made public. A patient must meet several factors to be included in the death with dignity act. They include:

·        The oral request by a patient for medication to end their life in a dignified manner

·        Written request by a patient for medication to end their life in a dignified manner

·        Voluntary attendance to a physician diagnosis

·        Voluntary consultations with physicians to determine if patients are driven by their own decision.

·        A report of the determination made during cancelling

Examples of states that have enacted the death dignity act include: Worthington in 2008 and Vermont in 2013.

Question eight

Hospice refers to palliative care that specializes in extended treatment and inpatient care for individuals. This is normally carried out by professional and skilled nurses and is defined under American system codes 623110 and 62161. Hospice was developed in 1948. The terminal ill primary caregiver was the main motive for the creation of the hospice facility. Therefore, some Insurance policy covers in the United States have hospice care subscriptions. However, the service is voluntary and not limited to specific individuals.

Works Cited

Armstrong, Elizabeth G. The Health Care Dilemma: A Comparison of Health Care Systems in Three European Countries and the Us. Singapore: World Scientific, 2011. Print.

Watson, Margaret. Health Care Reform and Globalisation: The Us, China and Europe in Comparative Perspective. London: Routledge, 2013. Print.

Wilson, Bettye G. Ethics and Basic Law for Medical Imaging Professionals. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co, 1997. Print.