Introduction
Health reimbursement is named based on the terms and how it operates. It occurs once a patient receives treatment services from a medical practitioner. The office sends the medication bill to whoever is supposed to cover the medical costs. Healthcare payments all depend on the type of services that the patient receives (Park & Look, 2019). The US healthcare reimbursement includes both private third-party and public coverage where the individuals, employers, and the government contribute. The critical areas of reimbursement include access, cost, equity, and quality.
The Critical Areas of Reimbursement and How They Function
Access
Access in relation to health refers to the capability of individuals to acquire the services needed. This area covers some other vital factors, such as coverage, workforce, timeliness, and services. Services-access will start with the continuous running of the care from the primary care provider and cover many other healthcare providers. On the other hand, workforce insufficiency of PCPs in the US threatens access, cost, and quality, as well as the increase of medium practitioners (PAs, NPs), which is just an unexploited solution. Timeliness covers the duration of the services provided and the duration at which the payments may be made after the medical service providers are done with their part.
Cost
The cost of healthcare in the United States is costly, especially for people without insurance coverage. Therefore, the price is much considered since, in 2012, about 17.2% was spent on health issues, while in States such as North Carolina, they spent 17.2% of their Gross Domestic Product on health care (Fos et al., 2019). Since healthcare costs are increasing every time, the nation needs to focus on this issue to ensure that everything is in order for the individuals requiring health assistance services, hence incurring some of the expenses of healthcare issues. There are important things one needs to understand, especially on cost, such as whether it is all about the money and who gets affected by it.
Equity
This is the equal attainment of all individuals for a high level of health. This is achieved by valuing everybody without discrimination and offering equal services to them without any considerations on healthcare issues. Based on social or economic factors, the nation needs to consider these factors since different people are faced with other social and financial problems. The government needs to check on this to ensure equal health service provision to its citizens.
One factor to consider is population health, which focuses on different perspectives of one’s life. This may include issues such as overweight and obesity, new infections, the physical and mental health of individuals, infant mortality rates in the region, and deaths as a result of accidents, alcohol, or illicit substances.
Quality
This is the degree to which an individual is likely to live or their lifespan based on professional knowledge. There are vital factors to consider when discussing quality access. For example, effectiveness, efficiency, timing, and safety. It is important to note that the quality of one’s life depends on the technological factors one is using for their survival. The US government should, therefore, implement the best technologies to cater to Americans.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is clear that a lot is considered before healthcare reimbursement is done. In healthcare, payment is made by individuals and employers, who pay for health insurance premiums depending on their coverage type. A large population in the United States depends on insurance companies to cover their cost due to the high cost of treatment.
It is, however, essential to note that the price of the services may vary in different states and institutions. The government also plays a significant part in providing services to Americans. However, the private insurer may also offer health coverage to the citizens in the region, ensuring equal contributions from all parties included in the system.
Reference
Fos, E. B., Thompson, M. E., Elnitsky, C. A., & Platonova, E. A. (2019). Community benefit spending among North Carolina’s tax-exempt hospitals after performing community health needs assessments. Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, 25(4), E1-E8. Web.
Park, J., & Look, K. A. (2019). Health care expenditure burden of cancer care in the United States. INQUIRY: The Journal of Health Care Organization, Provision, and Financing, 56. Web.
