But it is not to say that American healthcare system is but just failure. There are some of the best qualities that the American healthcare provides to those who have insurance. As leader of innovative technology and biomedical research and development, America assures the best provision of healthcare to those who are insured. The USA spends the highest per capita in healthcare when comparing it to the rest of the world. It has excellent profile in consumer responsiveness, easy technological access, and is second only to Japan in MRI and CT scan units per capita.
(Hohman, 2005) Mainly there are two public insurance entities, which are the Medicare and the Medicaid. Medicare derives its sustenance from the payroll tax contributions and is aimed to provide care to those Americans who are aged above 65. The Medicaid system is simply an income based insurance program. This program not only includes the elderly, but those who are disabled or are on low pay scale. Both the systems are funded by government and private entities. The coverage in the insurance plan is usually followed through by a preferred provider organization system.
The system provides many benefits to the insured. These services can range from hospitalization and home healthcare costs, to outpatient and equipment services. (Hohman, 2005) There are many reports and surveys that have shed light on the level of quality of provision of healthcare within America. Some are limited to the country statistics, while others look into other countries healthcare systems and compare them with America. In all of the surveys and studies, the chronology has shown one facet in growing. That the dissatisfaction in patients has increased with time.
(Blendon, 1990) This satisfaction was seen the most in the case of Americans, who were willing to try new and alternative systems of healthcare found in other nations. The survey carried out by Blendon (1990) showed an increase interest among Americans about adopting the Canadian system of healthcare, which according to the survey was most satisfied with their health insurance plans. What is important to note that even in 1990, the results by Blendon were a revision of the findings and trends that were present in the 1980s, meaning that the dissatisfaction with the healthcare system has been present for almost 30 years now?
Canadian system of healthcare, most of the cost of healthcare is burdened on the Canadian government. Also most of the fee systems in Canada were set by the government. These were the two main reasons why Americans considered Canadian system of healthcare as being superior to theirs. (Blendon, 1990) Another reason for the preference is the right given to the patient to choose his or her own healthcare provider, instead of PPO system that is seen in the USA. Blendon was able to show that two thirds of the Americans are willing to adopt the Canadian system as an alternative.
The idea of a system where the government would cover the health of all the Americans was especially appreciated when asked in Blandon’s survey. (Blendon, 1990) Blendon quoted many of the other studies in his article and referred to the study conducted by Harris and his colleagues carried out in the same year. Harris however, had carried out a survey of ten countries, including Britain, Canada and the USA. With some what different findings in certain areas due to cultural differences, Harris was again able to show the largest dissatisfaction rates among the Americans regarding their healthcare system.
The study also pointed out that America spends the highest amount in healthcare expenditures, but is not able to provide the benefits to its patients. On the other hand, countries where as satisfaction levels were higher would respond better if their governments would increase the per capita amount on healthcare. This clearly concludes that while increased investment in essential in the provision of healthcare, it may not necessarily improve patient satisfaction levels or service standards.
(Blendon, 1990) These two initial studies can be considered a starting point in our study of trends and satisfaction levels in the USA public about healthcare provision. The issues in many ways remain the same, as will be viewed from other examples. The problems were present from the start; the sad part is that after the passage of 30 years, no significant efforts have been made to reduce this level of dissatisfaction that affects the Americans till today.
The 2001 survey carried out by the University of Maine aimed to shed light on the American system with respect to the costs that are placed in the healthcare system. It gives reference to the WHO report conducted in 2000, which surveyed 191 countries and the various aspects of healthcare that each country is demonstrating. The study showed that the USA is no doubt the most expensive healthcare system of the world. It attributed increased amount expenditures to escalating costs of medical technology and prescription drugs, high administrative costs, and the multiple cost payer systems.
The introduction of for-profit hospitals is another factor in the increasing expenditure of the USA healthcare system. (University of Maine, 2001) Many of the costs are due to the neglect that uninsured Americans get in their treatments. Certain conditions and diseases of low severity are easily treatable, but due to neglect may lead to potentially severe, debilitating and potentially dangerous complications, that lead to more time, effort and monetary expenditures than would be if they were treated at early stages. (University of Maine, 2001)