Reducing the price of healthcare

Deliverable length: 3-5 pages

The focus in health care reform is cost control in light of annual  double-digit inflation since the late 1990s and the consumption of  nearly 17% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2009 (more than any  other country in the world). The debate is over how to reduce the rate  of spending for health care while preserving quality and access to care  for patients. Research at least 2 methods of reducing the percentage of  the GDP spent on health care. You will need to be able to describe how  you would do this in specific terms. This can be a number of approaches,  such as the following:

• Completely dismantle the current system and start over—A monumental task  
• Revise the current payment system to reflect current economic constraints  
• Cut Medicare and Medicaid  
• Insurance reform  
• National health insurance based on the Massachusetts Model  
• Malpractice reform  
• Legislation such as the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, the  Medicare Modernization Act of 2003, the Affordable Care Act (2010), and  others 

Provide the following elements in your paper:

• Describe the model you are supporting to best control costs without  compromising the quality and access to health care, and explain how the  model works.  
• Analyze the method that you are supporting, detailing the  strengths and weaknesses from all stakeholder group (e.g., patient,  provider, and third-party payer) perspectives.  
• Provide an example of the model in real time or as a scenario.  
• Summarize the anticipated results in terms of costs and benefits.