Review of US Healthcare Systems
Review of US Healthcare Systems
American Sentinel University
Review of US Healthcare Systems
The history of the Healthcare system in the United States is impressive, from healthcare being mostly physicians making house calls using horse and buggy and with payments made to the physician in the form of cash or bartering. Through the Great Depression Era, when employment became scarce, and families struggled to survive day to day living, advancements in medicine continued, the shift from home bound care to hospital care was in progress. Blue Cross Insurance, often referred to as the ‘Blues Plan’, was the first commercial, not-for-profit insurance. These advancements in Healthcare Systems come with a high cost.
During the World War II Era, while the advancements in hospitals and medicine continued. This was one of the earlier starts of Government involvement in the healthcare system. “The Lanham Act provided federal assistance for infrastructure needs of communities impacted by the growing defense industry, including health facilities. The Act establishes a precedent for government aid to private not-for-profit hospitals” (Harlow, n.d.,Time line). Several hospitals received payment for ‘per patient day’ services on government contracts. Workers Unions, like the Railroad, started compensating employees with healthcare insurance. The Hill-Burton Act of 1946 gave construction grants or loans to medical facilities that agreed to provide services to persons unable to pay (Parks, 2010). “The Hill-Burton Act funded 4 billion dollars to 6,900 hospitals and other medical facilities over its 30-year span” (Harlow, n.d, Time line).
In the 1950’s smoking was labeled a cause of cancer. Heart surgeries were being performed and vaccinations were being used to prevent disease. Advanced services being completed in hospitals, the cost of care started to rise. While cost control attempts began in the hospital sectors, Blue Cross insurance rates started
American Sentinel University
Review of US Healthcare Systems
The history of the Healthcare system in the United States is impressive, from healthcare being mostly physicians making house calls using horse and buggy and with payments made to the physician in the form of cash or bartering. Through the Great Depression Era, when employment became scarce, and families struggled to survive day to day living, advancements in medicine continued, the shift from home bound care to hospital care was in progress. Blue Cross Insurance, often referred to as the ‘Blues Plan’, was the first commercial, not-for-profit insurance. These advancements in Healthcare Systems come with a high cost.
During the World War II Era, while the advancements in hospitals and medicine continued. This was one of the earlier starts of Government involvement in the healthcare system. “The Lanham Act provided federal assistance for infrastructure needs of communities impacted by the growing defense industry, including health facilities. The Act establishes a precedent for government aid to private not-for-profit hospitals” (Harlow, n.d.,Time line). Several hospitals received payment for ‘per patient day’ services on government contracts. Workers Unions, like the Railroad, started compensating employees with healthcare insurance. The Hill-Burton Act of 1946 gave construction grants or loans to medical facilities that agreed to provide services to persons unable to pay (Parks, 2010). “The Hill-Burton Act funded 4 billion dollars to 6,900 hospitals and other medical facilities over its 30-year span” (Harlow, n.d, Time line).
In the 1950’s smoking was labeled a cause of cancer. Heart surgeries were being performed and vaccinations were being used to prevent disease. Advanced services being completed in hospitals, the cost of care started to rise. While cost control attempts began in the hospital sectors, Blue Cross insurance rates started
References: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2012). Physician Self Referral Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Fraud-and-Abuse/PhysicianSelfReferral/index.html Garber, K. (n.d.). Eight Decades of Health Care, 1960s. Retrieved from http://www.hhnmag.com/hhnmag/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=HHNMAG/Article/data/05MAY2007/0705HHN_FEA_Healthcare&domain=HHNMAG Harlow, J. (n.d.). Eight Decades of Health Care, 1940s. Retrieved from http://www.hhnmag.com/hhnmag/jsp/articledisplay.jsp?dcrpath=HHNMAG/Article/data/03MAR2007/0703HHN_FEA_80Anniv&domain=HHNMAG Parks, P. (2010). What is The Hill-Burton Act? Retrieved from http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/what-is-the-hill-burton-act-63450/ United States Census Bureau. (n.d.). Births, Deaths, Marriages, & Divorces: Life Expectancy. Expectation of Life at Birth, and Projections. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/births_deaths_marriages_divorces/life_expectancy.html Wood. D.B., (2011). Census report: More Americans relying on Medicare, Medicaid (VIDEO). Retrieved from http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0913/Census-report-More-Americans-relying-on-Medicare-Medicaid-VIDEO