Running Head: POLICY BRIEF 1

Policy Brief

Student’s Name

Instructor’s Name

Course

Due Date
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Introduction

The increasing costs of healthcare services and insurance premiums have become a health

crisis in the United States. The federal government is spending millions of dollars to offer

medical cover however, the cost of medical services is high above average income citizen

affordability (Frey, 2015). The majority of low income and minority groups are unable to cover

medical bills which have left them accumulating huge medical bills and some even denied

medical services. Healthcare professionals and governments need to review these challenges and

facilitate in delivery of quality and affordable healthcare services. Understanding the root cause

of the problem will facilitate in making appropriate policies and taking corrective actions. Thus

policy briefs in the healthcare system will facilitate identification and understanding of emerging

issues or problems by offering background information on these issues (Myers, 2018). The paper

will address on a policy brief on increased costs of healthcare despite the government

introducing Obama care to all health facilities. 

Underlying Issues

Price increase in drugs

Most of the pharmaceutical industries have hiked prices for their products which have directly

caused a rapid increase in the cost of medical drugs. According to Redwood et al. (2016)

majority of the patients, especially those in public hospital have been challenged to pay for their

drugs especially those under long term medication. In a recent report from the center for

Medicaid and Medicare services showed than average Americans spend nearly $1200 annually

on prescription medication which has been influenced by the increasing prices (Obama, 2016). It

is also revealed then a third of patients in long medication skip their prescribed medication due to

the high costs. It is the responsibility of primary care providers and the government to
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proactively speak up for the patients and advocate for immediate consideration of these prices.

Healthcare services need to be affordable to all citizens. Health practitioners and the government

need to ensure that the entire nation receivers these services and medications. 

Poor coordination

Poor care coordination has been a leading issue in healthcare facilities. Reports show that

most of the healthcare facilities have received fallbacks in communication and tracking of

patients’ population. According to Redwood et al. (2016), health care systems have become

disjoint where patients are offered little or no information on their referral, appointments, and

care given. In other cases, conflicts arise between physicians, specialists and primary caregivers

where the follow of information regarding patients’ health care is ineffective. There have been

cases of patients getting improper medication due to confusion in their documents and

inadequate information regarding their treatment. 

Stakeholders

All entities that will both directly and indirect been affected by health policy and reforms in

the healthcare system hold has stakeholders. Among these are the government, patients,

healthcare practitioners, insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies (Myers, 2018). The

patients have been key stakeholders are on the grass root of all implications of any policy or

reform made. The insurance companies on the other hand offer medical and health care services

cover to patients both directly and indirectly. The pharmaceutical companies held accountable

for the manufacturing and supply of medications. The government and insurance companies

make payments for the medication. The government is held responsible for regulating policies

and reforms amended alongside subsidizing for services offered by the HealthCare facilities.

Resolutions
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Several measures have been put in place to resolve the issues however, more need to be done.

According to recent research in the field, researchers propose that integration and leadership with

accountability can be implemented as strategic methods to resolve the current crisis. In

integration, all HealthCare facilities will be introduced to advancing technology to facilitate in

transmitting of information especially patient's information across all departments. The key

agenda for integration is to improve care coordination (Redwood et al., 2016). 

Secondly, the leading teams in the healthcare sector need to ensure that policies and reform

made are cost-friendly and patient-centric. Patients’ care need to be prioritized and deliver on

time. In the past there have been cases of patients been delayed services where many end up dead

and other worsening their conditions. It should be taken with concern that patients need to be

attended immediately with proper procedures followed. In addition, patients need also to be

explained on their condition together with their family members. It is important for them to

understand their situation and what they ae going through. Leaders need to show their

commitment through the designing and implementation of policies purposed to attain the key

goal of healthcare systems and allow for innovation and timely delivery of HealthCare services

(Myers, 2018). In addition, coordination needs to be witnessed across all stakeholders and

agencies in the healthcare system with central offices that oversee the authority and regulation of

formulating policies in the sector.

Specific Alternatives and Their Consequences

Introduce fixed healthcare service fees. The resolution involves setting fixed fees to a bundle

of services which will help the low income from receiving all services they require and also

prevent huge medical bills (Burwell, 2015). The key advantage of the resolution is that it will

facilitate standardization of service fees on both public and private HealthCare centers and
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reduce the traditional use of tests and procedures before offering accurate services to patients.

However, it will be challenging in offering incentives to care providers who have fees changed

will be standardized regardless of the quality of services offered. 

Secondly, the state of practice laws can be reformed to allow for nonphysical providers to

offer HealthCare services. Despite the fact that the practice can deteriorate the quality of

healthcare services, it will be of great help in remote areas and facilities that are in shortage of

workforce thus will, in the long run, lower the cost of HealthCare services and reduce the

shortage of care providers in the states. 

Conclusion

Stakeholders and the healthcare system need to collaborate in ensuring that health services

and medication offered are affordable and quality. Although, it can only be achieved by primary

caregivers having a leadership that embrace innovative and ready for change. In addition,

policies and reforms amended should be in line with the core goal of the HealthCare system. 
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References

Burwell, S. M. (2015). Setting value-based payment goals—HHS efforts to improve US health

care. N Engl J Med, 372(10), 897-899.

Frey, J. J. (2015). A new Hundred Years’ War? The Affordable Care Act.

Myers, C. R. (2018). Health Policy and Politics. Contemporary Nursing E-Book: Issues, Trends,

& Management, 392.

Obama, B. (2016). United States health care reform: progress to date and next

steps. Jama, 316(5), 525-532.

Redwood, S., Brangan, E., Leach, V., Horwood, J., & Donovan, J. L. (2016). Integration of

research and practice to improve public health and healthcare delivery through a

collaborative'Health Integration Team'model-a qualitative investigation. BMC health services

research, 16(1), 201.