In 2015, over 17 percent of the U.S. national expenditures went
towards healthcare (Shi & Singh, 2017). a Still, the U.S. national
expenditures on healthcare continue to grow. From the years 2010 to
2019 the average annual growth healthcare spending was 4.2
percent. However, in the period from 2019 to 2020, healthcare
spending grew by 9.7 percent (Kurani et al., 2022). One of the
contributing factors in this growth could be the increase in spending
on Public Health, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Value-based healthcare can encourage cost-effective and quality care
for patients by rewarding providers and medical facilities for positive
patient outcomes (NEJM, 2017). In light of the continuing yearly
increase in healthcare expenditures in the United States, the
government can help to promote value-based and cost-efficient
healthcare. Value-based healthcare concepts can help patients to
spend less money, achieve better outcomes, provide efficiencies for
providers, and help to reduce risks (NEJM, 2017). One way that the
government can help to promote these concepts is through the
issuance of clinical practical guidelines. Issuing clinical practice
guidelines can help medical practitioners to make appropriate
decisions related to a patient’s healthcare based on the patient’s
condition and clinical situation (NCCIH, 2022). a Although these
guidelines are not mandatory for providers to follow, they can
provide an important framework that providers can use to choose
appropriate and efficient treatment and diagnostic options for their
patients.
References
Kurani, N., Ortaliza, J., Wager, E., Fox, L., & Amin, K. (2022, February
25). How has U.S. spending on healthcare changed over time?
Petersen-KFF Health System Tracker.
https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-spending-
healthcare-changed-
time/#Percent%20change%20in%20total%20health%20expenditures%
20per%20capita,%201980-
2020,snd%20in%20the%20Personal%20Consumption%20Expenditure%
20price%20index,%201980-2020
National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health [NCCIH].
Clinical Practice Guidelines. Retrieved May 4, 2022 from
https://www.nccih.nih.gov/health/providers/clinicalpractice
NEJM. (2017, January 1). What is Value-based Healthcare? NEJM
Catalyst. https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.17.0558
Shi, L. & Singh, D. (2017). Essentials of the U.S. Health Care System.
Burlington, Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Learning
