The healthcare system of the US is recognized as one of the major and unique healthcare domains established around the globe. It is critical to assess the effectiveness of this system in the context of free-market because there are many stakeholders actively involves in this scenario. It is observed that most healthcare facilities in the country are largely owned by private entities. The facet of health insurance for many citizens is usually delivered by their employers, independent entity, or the approach of government-based programs. It is critical to indicate that some specific healthcare services are also associated with the paradigm of non-profit organizations operating in the country. The US healthcare system is illustrated in the form of the free-market approach ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"319cRfTZ","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Council & Population, 2013)","plainCitation":"(Council & Population, 2013)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1325,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/7MVHYTZU"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/7MVHYTZU"],"itemData":{"id":1325,"type":"book","title":"US health in international perspective: Shorter lives, poorer health","publisher":"National Academies Press","ISBN":"0-309-26414-6","author":[{"family":"Council","given":"National Research"},{"family":"Population","given":"Committee","dropping-particle":"on"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2013"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Council & Population, 2013). It is vital to examine the basic aspects of this system under the domain of the free-market. This paper focuses to critically examine the primary characteristics of the US healthcare system in the context of a free-market approach.
Primary Characteristics of the US Healthcare System
A free-market approach in case of healthcare system is characterized as priority in case of different countries. A free-market healthcare approach is defined as an active role of different market forces without any intervention of government authorities. It is one great debate exist in case of the US healthcare system to characterized it as a free-market approach. It is vital to assess the basic characteristics of the US healthcare system to define its specific practical approach concerning the perspective of the free market.
The US healthcare delivery system is comprised of different aspects of consideration that involves practical implication of various market forces. It is critical to indicate that the healthcare delivery system of the US never allows all American citizens to avail basic healthcare services. It is observed that healthcare system of country evolved concerning the features of cost, access, quality, and the overall paradigm of system. Consideration of certain external effects is necessary to determine the basic character of the healthcare system of the country. These exterior driving forces specifically recognized as political environment, economic development, technological progress, social and cultural domains, physical climate conditions, characteristics of population, and the international influence ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"8tZpTIlj","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Cebul, Rebitzer, Taylor, & Votruba, 2008)","plainCitation":"(Cebul, Rebitzer, Taylor, & Votruba, 2008)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1326,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/2LPI8M3U"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/2LPI8M3U"],"itemData":{"id":1326,"type":"article-journal","title":"Organizational fragmentation and care quality in the US healthcare system","container-title":"Journal of Economic Perspectives","page":"93-113","volume":"22","issue":"4","author":[{"family":"Cebul","given":"Randall D."},{"family":"Rebitzer","given":"James B."},{"family":"Taylor","given":"Lowell J."},{"family":"Votruba","given":"Mark E."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2008"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Cebul, Rebitzer, Taylor, & Votruba, 2008). All these practical domains play vital role to determine fundamental characteristics of healthcare system developed for the citizens. There are ten primary characteristics of the US healthcare system that helps to differentiate it from the healthcare delivery system of other countries ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"HzANrWfd","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Papanicolas, Woskie, & Jha, 2018)","plainCitation":"(Papanicolas, Woskie, & Jha, 2018)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1324,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/A8HJG2SL"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/A8HJG2SL"],"itemData":{"id":1324,"type":"article-journal","title":"Health care spending in the United States and other high-income countries","container-title":"Jama","page":"1024-1039","volume":"319","issue":"10","author":[{"family":"Papanicolas","given":"Irene"},{"family":"Woskie","given":"Liana R."},{"family":"Jha","given":"Ashish K."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2018"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Papanicolas, Woskie, & Jha, 2018). Consideration of these basic features is also vital to examine the perspective of a free market.
No central government agency is responsible when it comes to governing the system.
The accessibility of healthcare services is relevant to the broad approach of insurance coverage.
The perspective of health care is practically concerned with the domain of imperfect market circumstances.
The role of third-party insurers is crucial to develop the necessary association between different financing and delivery operations.
The complexity of this healthcare system linked with the active involvement of multiple payers.
The idea of balancing power connects with the approach of various players when it comes to dominating the healthcare delivery system by a single strong authority.
The threat of legal aspects eventually impacts the practice behavior of physicians and other healthcare professionals.
The creation of new technology advancement is closely linked with overall automatic demand.
The objective of the new service setting is comprised of the overall range established in case of healthcare services.
The criteria of quality can never be embraced in the form of unachievable objective considering the overall paradigm of delivery of healthcare for American citizens.
No Central Agency
This is one of the most significant features of free-market that the healthcare system of the country is not solely administered by any government entity. Allocation of resources is closely connected with the facet of the budgetary domain. The health care system of country is mainly recognized as a private system of financing.
Partial Access
The criteria of access to healthcare services in the country are restricted specifically in forms of health insurance paradigms for employers, government healthcare program, consideration of private funds, and the entire private services. Uninsured individuals can only access some forms of healthcare services.
Imperfect Market
The detailed examination of the practical domain of healthcare system of the US system clearly indicates that there are many private entities associated with the healthcare services. Furthermore, it is also essential to indicate that the perspective of healthcare is partially administered by different free-market forces. The aspects of delivery and consumption of healthcare are not suitably reflected as an approach of free market. The mixed market conditions help to determine this system as an imperfect market system.
Third-Party Insurers and Payers
The process of insurance is usually operated through the involvement of third-party insurers. The procedure of insurance recognized as a transaction between the client and the service provider ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"dZjvIjHN","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Shortell, Gillies, & Wu, 2010)","plainCitation":"(Shortell, Gillies, & Wu, 2010)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1327,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/WFR6QJVK"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/WFR6QJVK"],"itemData":{"id":1327,"type":"article-journal","title":"United States innovations in healthcare delivery","container-title":"Public Health Reviews","page":"190","volume":"32","issue":"1","author":[{"family":"Shortell","given":"Stephen M."},{"family":"Gillies","given":"Robin"},{"family":"Wu","given":"Frances"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Shortell, Gillies, & Wu, 2010). The process of insurance can never be considered complete without the consideration of third-party in case of payment functions.
Multiple Financiers
The free-market approach of the healthcare system of the country can also observe in case of involvement of different payers. The active multiplicity of the healthcare system is basic condition of existing healthcare system of the country. This approach can also be examined in the scenario of the integration of different insurance institutions.
The Approach of Power Balancing
It is crucial to understand that the healthcare system of the US involves the active intervention of different players. Physicians, administrators of health service organizations, insurance companies, large employers, and the government are recognized as main stakeholders in this context. The consensus of economic interest of all shareholders develops a range of healthcare prospects.
High Technology
The feature of medical research and innovation are greatly acknowledged under the approach of the country’s broad healthcare system. It is observed that growth in medical technology ultimately enhances demands for some specific healthcare services ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"s0npv5A3","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Shi & Singh, 2005)","plainCitation":"(Shi & Singh, 2005)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":1328,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/HZDGCLT9"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/7Hi3kAOD/items/HZDGCLT9"],"itemData":{"id":1328,"type":"book","title":"Essentials of the US Health Care System","publisher":"Jones and Bartlett","URL":"https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=zOOPmMLusq4C","ISBN":"978-0-7637-3151-9","author":[{"family":"Shi","given":"L."},{"family":"Singh","given":"D. A."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2005"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Shi & Singh, 2005). The physicians and other healthcare service providers are keen to adopt new advance measures to facilitate all American citizens.
Legal Hazards
Litigation is one main element or characteristic greatly associated with practical implications of the healthcare system in the country. The complex process of lawsuit eventually influences the healthcare delivery approach established by healthcare professionals. The risk of misconduct of legal prospects is one real consideration exist for the healthcare system of the country.
Range of Healthcare Services
The healthcare services are primarily devised into three major classes of curative, restorative, and preventive domains. Different healthcare services are classified under these three main categories to enhance the overall performance level of the healthcare sector. It is vital to indicate that specialized services are mainly focused on healthcare professionals under the broad domain of healthcare system.
Consideration of Quality
The healthcare sector of the country is keen to develop some basic standards of quality when it comes to the delivery of basic healthcare services to citizens. The pressure of quality enhancement is increasing by establishing specific standards of performance. The main aim of this consideration is to improved health results for the individuals and the community.
Conclusion
In a nutshell, it is vital to indicate that the healthcare system of the country is closely linked with the involvement of different stakeholders. Moreover, different crucial driving forces of market also play critical role to determine basic healthcare services approaches for the citizens.
References
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Cebul, R. D., Rebitzer, J. B., Taylor, L. J., & Votruba, M. E. (2008). Organizational fragmentation and care quality in the US healthcare system. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 22(4), 93–113.
Council, N. R., & Population, C. on. (2013). US health in international perspective: Shorter lives, poorer health. National Academies Press.
Papanicolas, I., Woskie, L. R., & Jha, A. K. (2018). Health care spending in the United States and other high-income countries. Jama, 319(10), 1024–1039.
Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2005). Essentials of the US Health Care System. Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=zOOPmMLusq4C
Shortell, S. M., Gillies, R., & Wu, F. (2010). United States innovations in healthcare delivery. Public Health Reviews, 32(1), 190.
