...The existing arrangement of the U.S. health care system leaves large numbers of the American population without access to adequate health care. Currently, about 45 million Americans do not have any health insurance, resulting in inability to receive the necessary care required for a healthy and productive life (NCHC). Further, government run programs such as Medicaid and SCHIP, the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, are not sufficient and effective means of providing care for those eligible for them. Poor Families in America’s Health Care Crisis by Ronald J. Angel, Laura Lein, and Jane Henrici illustrates how the safety net for health care through current government programs does not work and how access to health care cannot be considered universal. The Three City Study, a large, multidisciplinary examination of the consequences of welfare reform for children and families in poor neighborhoods in Boston, Chicago, and San Antonio, gives a personalized look into the flaws of the United States’ welfare and health care systems (Angel 7). Through these ethnographic studies, it can be determined that the current safety net for poor Americans is made ineffective because of discontinuity of care and the employer-based nature of health care. Poverty can be defined as the “lack of social capital or power to control one’s life or that of one’s children in important ways” (Angel 30). With this being said, it can easily be seen why poor Americans live very chaotic and unstable...
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...Running head: AMERICA’S AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE CHOICES OF 2009 1 America’s Affordable Health Care Choices of 2009: Advanced Care Directives Denise Renna Ball State University Abstract This paper explores Section 1233 of Health Related (H.R.) Bill 3200, America’s Affordable Health Care Choices of 2009, introduced to the House of Representatives. Under this section of the bill, the Qualified Health Benefit Package (QHBP) would be required to explain end-of-life planning to individuals who seek this information. Currently physicians are not reimbursed for providing end-of-life planning for individuals on Medicare. Some larger groups such as the American Medical Association (AMA) are in favor of passing the bill. This paper examines groups in favor of the bill as presenting opposition from other groups regarding this piece of legislation. America’s Affordable Health Care Choices of 2009: Advanced Care Directives Health Related Bill The House of Representatives introduced H.R. bill 3200: America’s Affordable Health Care Choices of 2009 on July 14, 2009, as a means “to provide affordable, quality health care for all Americans and reduce the growth in health care spending, and for other purposes” (H.R. 3200-111th Congress, 2009). HR 3200 is an active bill that was referred to the House Committees on Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Oversight and Government Reform, and Budget,...
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...ABSTRACT The rising costs of health care plans in America is uncontrollable. The number of citizens who are living without health care insurance continues to rise, while at the same time the price of having insurance continues to grow. Instead of the government reforming the health care system, they continue to spend billions of dollars in aid through Medicare, Medicaid, Tricare, and other government programs - Dollars that could perhaps be better spent on funding programs to ensure every American is provided an affordable health insurance. Over the past year it has become apparent that insurance companies are looking to capitalize by setting premiums higher, as the President talks about implementing a mandate on citizens to have health care. The debate on whether health care should be a profit market or Government controlled should be considered. Through all the turmoil, one thing is certain: America is in need of a Health Care Reform. PREFACE Growing up on poverty, my parents did their best to provide what they could. I was fortunate to be put into State custody at a young age and my brothers and I received full medical treatment under Medicare. A government funded subsidy that allowed us to have free medical attention. As a child, not much thought went into the idea, but as I got older I realized the importance of health insurance. My foster mother had to be rushed to the hospital a few times due to really bad asthma attacks, apparently...
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...Assignment 7.1: Children’s Health Insurance Program Jennifer Heuring Maryville University Dr. Jean Gordon NURS602 Assignment 5.1: Children’s Health Insurance Program Introduction It is of vital importance for Americans to have the ability to access health care to maintain health and wellness. Many disease processes are modifiable and even avoidable but the lack of proper access to healthcare can heighten the risk of people’s ability to reach their full potential in life. This issue ranges from older adults to newborn children. According to the Children’s Defense Fund (n.d.), 7.2 million children under the age of 19 remained uninsured in 2012. That is 1 out of every 11 of our children. The pediatric population does not have the ability or choice to change the circumstances that their life has handed them. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) seeks to provide health insurance to uninsured children. Working cooperatively between the federal government and individual state governments, SCHIP provides an alternative to families whose wages are too high to qualify for Medicaid yet too low to make private coverage affordable. The Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) was created by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, enacted Title XXI of the Social Security Act. It has allocated about $20 billion over 10 years to assist states insure low-income children. Problem definition Research has found that people within the United States...
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...President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. There is no denying that Healthcare reform is a necessity at this point. Something absolutely has to change in America’s Healthcare. “It seems clear that if we continue down the path of healthcare delivery we current practice in this country, even if it is practiced a bit more efficiently, we will have failed. We will bankrupt this country, and the health of our citizens will continue to decline” (Riley, 2009). The question remains however, is the Affordable Care Act the answer to our crisis? The intentions of the ACA are honorable. Creators plan to reform healthcare by attacking several areas with issues. Main focus of goals include Universality – The right of every citizen to have healthcare. All citizens should be in a common risk pool. Financing – intent to reform based on spreading the cost of healthcare out equally. The common risk pool comes largely into play here because the young and healthy will subsidize some of the care needed by the sick and elderly. Cost – Reduction – Stabilizing the cost of healthcare and reducing the rate of growth Payment Reform – paying for outcomes and values achieved, rather than the volume of care given. Quality and process improvement - Components that will improve reporting and quality indicators of care. Prevention and Wellness - goal to reduce the cost of healthcare by promoting healthy living, therefore, less need for medical care. (Panning, 2014). In some ways the...
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...2009, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama, addressed a Joint Session of Congress to speak on comprehensive health care reform. A highly intelligent man, he received his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University and his Juris Doctorate from Harvard University in 1991. To his credit, he was the first African-American to be President of the Harvard Law Review (Butterfield). Throughout his life, President Obama has displayed high degree of cognitive intelligence leading to his executive intelligence. His insight into common problems was evident as early as his days organizing community rallies up to his present position of President of the United States. His level of creativity fostered widespread support during his ramp up to becoming the 44th president. The country bought and continues to buy what he is selling, and this has allowed his campaign and presidency to get the biggest genuine grassroots support the country had seen to date. Health care reform was one of several promises Candidate Barack Obama made during the 2008 election season. Now, President Obama promises health care reform will no longer be an issue for the common American. In his speech to the Joint Session of Congress, he stated he was “determined to be the last” (Obama), in reference to past presidents who attempted to overhaul health care reform and failed. As President Obama walked into the Chamber of Congress that evening, the Commander-in-Chief looked poised and demanded...
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...speech on May 13, 2010, “So, America’s small business owners -- people like Dave Sullivan -- have always been the backbone of America’s economy” (Obama, 2010). In today’s economy that is seeing all time lows, this statement has never been truer. As we move forward, the impact that small businesses are going to have will become more important in maintaining the economy of the United States and, eventually, in the world. From the many small shops on Main Street to the dot com startups, America’s small businesses have become America’s economic engine and one of the country’s greatest assets. Small businesses have been responsible for creating 2 out of every 3 new jobs. When American small businesses are strong and thriving, the surrounding communities are strong and growing. From the time President Obama stepped into office, he has invested and encouraged the small business owners so they can do what they do best and that is create jobs and economy. Small business is responsible for a huge percent of the businesses that are available to provide needed services to customers and are there for profit; however, they are not the only available resource for certain services. In today’s economy, there are many nonprofit organizations that can provide needed services to the public for much less or at no charge to the customer. Most of these nonprofit organizations stick strictly to areas of our lives that are considered a need to live or better health. No matter what the service...
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...for health care services? The health status of every individual is relative to environmental and heredity factors. In general, the average individual doesn’t have control over their genetic makeup; however, there behavioral lifestyle is and it influences their overall quality of life. Environmental factors are things that an individual can always alter to improve their health. For example, changes in their diet, physical maintenance, and stress. The decisions from the initial case deal with treatment; further along there is areas of discipline, education, responsibility, and adopted healthy lifestyles. With this in mind, the wrong decision will equally influence health care supply and demand significantly. For example, the increasing rate of diabetes in the country is a result of either decision. Type 1 diabetes is a hereditary form of the virus caused from the digestive system not processing insulin. However, type 2 diabetes is caused by environment influences which cause the pancreas to insufficiently produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is usually caused by obesity. In fact, I researched this information before for a previous class and its been proven that 95% of all diabetes infected individuals have type 2 diabetes. The overall number of individuals with diabetes make up 30% of the U.S. population. The number of individuals with the disease began to spike in the mid 1990’s and the demographic equally expands from young children to older adults. Financially, the health care...
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...With the right decision making, some companies improve during a crisis To paraphrase the bumper sticker: Stuff happens. Fortunately, so does good leadership--but those folks looking for pat solutions to unpredictable situations will be disappointed. First-rate management of a crisis rarely looks the same twice. A case in point from America's military: Gen. George S. Patton, perhaps the most celebrated of America's modern military men, was first and foremost a student, devouring books on history and war strategy throughout his life. He also was a brilliant tactician who believed in preparation. When Germans snapped Allied lines and poured deep into Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge, Patton had a plan. He stunned Supreme Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower by claiming he could break off a chunk of the Third Army from its march west through France and redirect it straight north 100 miles into Belgium within 48 hours. Patton succeeded, and his army helped end the Axis powers' last great push. "The things people do before a crisis occurs have a huge impact on what occurs during that crisis," says Gene Klann, author of the book Crisis Leadership and an associate professor at U.S. Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kan. "Patton had prepared himself for that situation." But preparation isn't always the hallmark of triumph in a crisis. Experts say it's a mixed bouquet that often contains preparation but also includes blooms of improvisation, good communication...
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...1.0 Executive Summary The state of America's health care crisis, coupled with current demographic changes, threaten to not only exacerbate the crisis, but further erode worker productivity as well. These environmental factors coupled with the local competitive situation signal a favorable opportunity in this market. We feel the time is right for New Look. 2.0 Environmental Analysis Health clubs are service facilities that are intended to provide physical health care exercises with the help of specialized equipment. It normally serves both male and female customers but in some cases customized for specific genders depending on market needs. Normally, the environment is made casual to provide customers comfortable experience that helps them perform bodybuilding and other exercises with ease. According to a 2009 report by the International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association (IHRSA), the total number of gym memberships in the US is roughly 45.3 million, and about 64.9 million visitors in about 29,750 health clubs . As more Americans are becoming more health conscience, and doctors constantly advocating more for daily physically activity, fitness clubs will continually be in growing demand. The state that has the highest percentage of fitness membership, Colorado, is the ideal location for New Look: Fitness, Health, and Wellness Club. With 22% of its population already interested in bettering their lives, this company will thrive over other gyms that offer the normal...
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...are more than forty-one million people who are without health insurance. The United States Government actuaries states that the healthcare spending in the U.S. will double by 2015-to-more than 12,300 per person and account for 20 percent of the nations GDP. U.S. healthcare costs have made health insurance too expensive for many employers to offer health insurance. Health coverage alone is taking away more than a quarter of worker’s earnings. Fewer employers are offering health insurance in America. Under President Obama, the current administration firmly believes that comprehensive reform should reduce long-term growth of health care costs for businesses and government, protect families from bankruptcy or debt because of health care costs, guarantee choice of doctors and wellness, improve patient safety and quality of care, assure affordable, quality health coverage for all Americans, maintain coverage when you change or lose your job and end barriers to coverage for people with pre-existing medical conditions. Not everyone agrees with the Obama administration. However, there has been major controversy with a new President (Obama), regarding how to fix the health insurance crisis in America. Major health care reform proposals have been the following: (1) single payer plans that call for the federal government to impose health insurance taxes and directly administer health benefits for everyone; (2) universal health insurance plans that require employers to pay all or most...
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...too much is not the sole cause of obesity. Other factors play a role and must be understood in order to reverse this epidemic and produce healthier children. The growing number of obese children in America are victims of an epidemic just as surely as if they were infected by a virus. Americans tend to think of an epidemic as an outbreak of a contagious illness. But to physicians the sudden increase in obesity rates that have occurred in the twentieth century is every bit as unexpected as an outbreak of a new infectious disease and has triggered an alarm that might greet the rising of polio. Julie Gerberding, the director of the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the fall of 2003, declared obesity the number one health threat facing America. (Okie, 2005) The causes (nature) of this epidemic are complex and include genetic, biological and behavioral factors. These include, but are not limited to poor eating habits, overeating, the lack of exercise, family history of obesity, cardiac, endocrine or neurological problems, life changing events or stress, along with family or peer problems and low self-esteem or emotional problems. There are also many medications, such as steroids and antidepressants that can contribute to weight gain. The consequences that obese children are at risk for are acute or chronic medical problems, such as abnormal bone growth, liver disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, low self-esteem and...
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...Health Care Museum I. ATTENTION: Everyday, on the news, we always hear the US helping other nations fight for the liberty that they deserve. We see the US roaming the globe to feed the hungry. We see the US send out it's best doctors to attend the needy countries. America's mission towards other countries are very noble to be questioned, but what about the welfare of its own citizens? For years, the US is facing a medical emergency and as of today, the federal government hasn't enacted a long lasting and viable solution to the problem. There is no need to use medical or economic jargon to explain to an average American what the problem really is, as it is very evident. Individuals are paying more than the benefits that they receive. And to make the matter worse, the recession in the US economy is causing dramatic numbers of Americans be uninsured. The crisis affects greatly the unemployed and low-paid workers. The price of health insurance nowadays are just too high that it threatens to eat up even the everyday necessities of an average individual. As a matter of fact, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) the US health care system ranks 37th in the world behind Colombia and Portugal despite the fact that US health care system is the most expensive in the planet with expenses all drawn to administrative costs and advertising. Therefore, we are paying for a massive, inefficient. All of us are affected by this. No one is exempted. Effects may not be felt...
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...History of Community Nursing Matrix Historical Time Period Nursing Role in Community Major Health Issues Partnerships Used Watson’s Theory Past Period 1 1800-1900 (America’s Colonial Period) In 1800-1900, during America’s colonial period and the new republic, public health committee was concerned about the health and care of individuals in the community; in the early years of 1800, the care for sick people and the ideas of public well-being were influenced by the traditions of British immigrants. That was the motive for establishment of a system to care for sick, poor, aged, mentally ill and dependent patients based on the English model. Using the Law of 1601was a great medical privilege for poor communities, blind individuals, and those who did not have families. At that time, the problems surrounding poor communities included death, birth defects, and many other kinds of sicknesses; that was also the beginning of the industrial developments and mechanizations and population growth, which contributed to increased incidence of disease. In 1856, Florence Nightingale organized hospital nursing practice and nursing education, emphasized the benefits of public health nursing, and highlighted the job of nurses which includes health promotion and disease prevention. (Dieckmann, 2008, p. 21) In the early 1800s, nurses were responsible for providing care at home and mostly focused on ethical improvements rather than illness or disease prevention. The year 1813 was the starting point...
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...Health Care Access As our nation awaited the results of the President’s trademark legislation, protesters from every walk of life surrounded the Supreme Court building. Audience consists of people who advocates religious freedom, Medicare, anti-abortion, and those who are looking for accessible healthcare. Finally, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act emerged relatively unscathed with only one significant change—it was now a tax. The excitement and energy exhibited by PPACA supporters were matched by the discontent exhibited by opponents upon learning the court’s decision. Everyone wants to be healthy. These same people, however, cannot agree on how this should be achieved. Clearly healthcare in this country is broken and America is deeply divided on how to fix it. Yet the bridge between the two sides is agreement that something must be done. Multiple national polls show a majority of Americans view PPACA unfavorably. Many feel the law will “do serious harm to American families” and is “a profound attack on our liberties.” U.S. business owners speak of passing on costs to employees, slashing work hours, or terminating jobs altogether. Opposition has also emerged outside of the U.S., with the Vatican openly opposing a portion of the law’s provisions. Catholic leaders objected to the “use of federal funds to pay for elective abortions” and the failure of the act to help “those most in need.” With all the bickering, though, both sides generally agree on one thing: America’s...
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