M7-320

5

Public Health Policy

1

July 20th, 2021

Dear Professor Benjamin Locwin,

I write this letter to explain a proposal that will improve the healthcare system in the United States. The healthcare system as it is in our country today is in a mess. There is reduced access to quality healthcare. The cost of healthcare today is rising higher every year. It is estimated that the cost of health care takes around one-fifth of the total GDP. The population that can afford insurance has to pay higher premiums than before. Even with higher premiums, people do not access the quality healthcare that they need. All these problems are brought about by the policies and regulations that the government has put on the healthcare system and insurers. The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2013 has seen a rise in healthcare premiums between 2013 and 2017.

To reduce the cost of healthcare in this country I propose that the government should come up with a free market policy in the healthcare sector. In this proposed policy the government needs to increase competition among healthcare practitioners. As of now, the government limits the extent to which medical practitioners can provide services as per the knowledge and the skills they have. The government should allow health care practitioners to provide service to their full potential, as this will increase the competition between them. In addition to this, the government restricts the number of foreigners who practice in the United States. The government should reduce restrictions placed on them to allow more healthcare providers to operate in the US.

Secondly, the government should allow increased mobility of healthcare providers. This should be done by allowing the healthcare practitioners to move from one state to another state where their services are needed. The healthcare providers should make sure that the process of acquiring a license between states is fast.

Thirdly, the government should lessen the restrictions placed on Telehealth as a means of providing healthcare. As of now, Medicare restricts the use of Telehealth to certain geographical locations. It also allows Telehealth services for the patients that had interacted in person with their physician before. Medicare should leave the decision of using Telehealth to the healthcare practitioner and the payer. (Horton 2013)

The key player in the implementation of this policy is the government. Since a large percentage of the Healthcare system is under the government, the government is responsible for ensuring that laws and policies are favorable to the healthcare system. Medicare which is responsible for the insurance policies should ensure that there is increased competition among the insurers to lower the cost of premiums. Lastly, the Affordable Care Act as it is is responsible for an increase in the cost of healthcare. ACA needs to be revised if the country is to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare.

Competition has been seen to reduce the prices of commodities and services. When there are many healthcare providers and insurers the people have a variety to choose from hence health becomes more accessible. (Germaise 2011) Secondly, increased competition will make the healthcare providers provide quality service at a reduced fee. Increasing competition and choice in the healthcare system is a better alternative to the proposed universal health coverage which will see the government spending more of the taxpayer's money on health.

Sincerely,

Shivone Smith

References

Garmaise, JM. 2011Ties that truly bind: noncompetition agreements, executive compensation, and firm investment. J Law Econ Org. 2011 Aug; 27(2):376-425. https://academic.oup.com/jleo/article-abstract/27/2/376/2194339. Accessed July 19, 2021.

Horton RW. 2013 Restrictive covenants in physician employment relationships. American Health Lawyers Association— Member Briefing. April 2013. http://www.bassberry.com/~/media/Files/Publications/2013/05/AHLA_Article_Horton_and_Padgett_April_2013.pdf. Accessed July 19, 2021.

Occupational licensing: a framework for policymakers. U.S. Department of the Treasury, Council of Economic Advisors, and the Department of Labor. July 2015, at 31-32. https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/sites/default/files/docs/licensing_report_final_nonembargo.pdf. Accessed August 25, 2018.