As the insurance news concerning the health industry begins to change, many are beginning to question how necessary insurance companies actually are. For centuries, insurers have provided access to policies that allow businesses and individuals to enjoy some degree of protection against unforeseeable events. People rely on insurance companies to handle the risks associated with daily life, but fall victim to the whims of these companies that are very much business oriented. When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010, it opened the way for a new…
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Official goals and challenges of U.S. health care reform – A hope for better care, delivery, and costs – Part I
The reforms to healthcare delivery being made by the Affordable Care Act are making an historic attempt to bring its costs under control by improving the quality and efficacy of the system. According to an official fact sheet, among the key reforms being made in this effort are as follows: Rewards for quality Hospitals – this includes the first Hospital Value-Based Purchasing Program of its size, which will give funding to more than 3,500 hospitals across the country based on how much they have improved and whether or not they…
Read MoreMental health experts call for blend of medical and behavioral payments in healthcare reform
Experts in mental health industry are requesting that medical providers such as psychologists take on an important role in health care reform, as they bring about new initiatives for reimbursement that would combine behavioral and medical health payments. Among the primary criticisms that U.S. healthcare has received over the years is that its method of providing health care identifies medical and behavioral services as independent and not as important as physical health services. Furthermore, preventative efforts make up only 5 percent of the total expenditures for healthcare. Along with the…
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