The Four Components of Health Care

The Four Components of Health Care

Grand Canyon University: HLT – 418V

The Four Components of Health Care

There are four key components of a functioning Health Care System. These four key components are insurance coverage, delivery of care, finances and receiving payments. There are also four components that I feel are also important and this is Health Care are having Comprehensive Coverage, Patient Centered, Comprehensive Leadership, and Health in all Policies. Some might ask what Universal coverage is and why is it important? Comprehensive Coverage provides everyone to access medications and medical services; there are no restrictions. Simply Comprehensive coverage means that everybody would have health care insurance coverage and that they would be able to receive the care that they deserve. The interactions between the these components are extremely critical because it comes down to making sure the health of the patients is acceptable and that they have and will have access to all potential treatment options. The other 3 key components such as finance, payment and insurance coverage have to do with the money part of health care. They are extremely important as well because that is what keeps the hospital or medical facility afloat – in business.

H.R. 986: Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019

This bill is an extension to the Subtitle C: Quality Health Insurance Coverage for All Americans – Part I: Health Insurance Market Reforms – (Sec. 1201, as modified by Sec. 10103); where no insurer can deny coverage for a preexisting health condition (Rangel, 2010) “So health care bill 986: The Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act would formally repeal the Trump Administration’s October guidance, halting the state-led expansion of health insurance plans which could discriminate or exclude coverage based on preexisting conditions” (Custer, 2019). This would be a huge impact if it would not be passed as millions of Americans have preexisting conditions.

The bill was introduced in the House on February 9, 2019 as bill number H.R. 986, by Rep. Ann Custer (D-NH2). It was introduced in the Senate a few days later on February 13, 2019 as bill number S. 466, by Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) (Custer, 2019). The S. 466 bill was an addition to H.R. 986, S. 466 Bill stated that each state could no longer use the waiver; State Innovation Waivers or State Relief and Empowerment Waivers; which allow states to eschew certain requirements of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act in order to implement experimental plans for health care coverage, as long as the resulting coverage meets certain statutory criteria (R. & Warner, 2019). “The bill passed the House on May 9, 2019 by 230 yes votes to 183 no votes, or 55.6%” (Custer, 2019). All voting Democrats were in favor of the bill. All but four voting Republicans opposed the bill; Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA1), John Katko (R-NY24), Jim Sensenbrenner (R-WI5), and Chris Smith (R-NJ4) (Custer, 2019).

During the pre-vote the Republican-controlled Senate seemed likely to vote it down; they were concerned that Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) would even allow it to come up for a vote in the chamber at all. They feared this even though; McConnell had said he’s in favor of keeping protections for preexisting conditions.

Supporters argue the legislation safeguards a person’s health care, even if they have a medical ailment which they were born with or cannot control. Some preexisting conditions patients can’t control the fact they got cancer or were born with Cystic Fibrosis. “We cannot go back to a time when Americans with preexisting conditions can be charged more or denied care,” said by Lead Rep. Custer. Supporters also feel that the Trump Administration wants to banish all of the Affordable Care Act; they feel that the administration undermines the success of the Affordable Care Act. They feel that the administration should work with Congress on targeted, bipartisan dilemmas that will decrease health care costs and increase access to comprehensive ad affordable health care insurance/ coverage.

Opponents of the bill counter that expanding the availability of short-term and association health care plans would allow consumers more options and provide lower costs. It is said that plans which have to cover less generally will cost less. “The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, however, have severely limited the choice of healthcare options available to many Americans”; was stated from an opponent of the bill name not mentioned.

I believe that the H.R 986 truly helps the health care service in the community. “Making sure the possibility that a Health insurers can no longer charge more or deny coverage to you or your family because of a preexisting health condition like cancer, diabetes, cystic fibrosis, asthma and so much more”. Health insurance companies are not allowed to limit benefits for those same preexisting conditions either. Once you have obtained insurance, the health insurance company can no longer refuse to cover treatments for your preexisting conditions (HHS Office & Public Affairs, 2017). The ways that it would affect the health care professionals would be that they would need to continue to provide excellent care for their patients. Patients wouldn’t miss any treatments and those treatments could possibly save their life. If anything that came out of the Affordable Care Act would be this preexisting condition clause. This has saved hundreds of thousands of dollars from middle and low income class patients; just imagine if this clause was not in place. I believe there would be higher deaths and increased amount of malpractice lawsuits.

This health care bill actually benefits the health care professionals by providing more work and income because patients who have preexisting conditions generally need to have increased care. For example; patients who have diabetes should be seen by their practitioner or specialist at least every 3 months with follow up lab work during their quarterly visits. I am in no way saying that just because patients who have preexisting conditions bring more income; I am saying that it does provide a need for health care professionals and especially as time goes we will continue to need new health care professionals as current professionals retire we need new providers coming in. I do believe that there are Health care bills out there that do affect the health care professionals and health service in a negative way but most of the recent health care bills that have been passed have been beneficial to not on the patients but the health care professional side.

With all of the political battles between the democrats and republicans there are great resources the government has put in place for patients who have struggles with insurers, they can go to the department of Health and human resources and they can help battle some of the costly medical issues that some get stuck with still. I honestly don’t think we will every settle with reforming health care. It will be a forever changing battle and it constantly changes when a new President is elected. However, I do believe we will be able to find a balance to some things that are most critical and key to patient care.

References

Custer, A. (2019, February 9). H.R. 986: Protecting Americans with Preexisting Conditions Act of 2019. Retrieved from https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/hr986/summary

HHS Office, & Public Affairs. (2017, January 31). Pre-Existing Conditions. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-the-aca/pre-existing-conditions/index.html

R., M., & Warner. (2019, February 13). S.466 – 116th Congress (2019-2020): Protecting Americans with Pre-existing Conditions Act of 2019. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-bill/466

Rangel, & B., C. (2010, March 23). H.R.3590 – 111th Congress (2009-2010): Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/111th-congress/house-bill/3590