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The Future Challenges Facing Health Care in the Us

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The Future Challenges Facing Health Care in the United States

Gregrey McDaniel

Professor: Manuel Johnican, PhD

Strayer University

HSA 500

11 June 2011

Identify and describe at least three of the most difficult issues facing health care in the United States today. One of the most difficult issues facing the United States health care system is combating diseases. Even with mortality rates continuing to decrease and with life expectancy rates continuing to increase, these trends are masking concerns with specific diseases, injuries, and population groups. The diseases that still give us a formidable challenge include many varieties of cancer, some kinds of infectious diseases, and influenza. The second difficult issue is health disparities. These disparities are widespread. Differences in how patients receive treatment and the access to treatment are measurable through financial, physical, and attitudinal indicators. Disparities affect all groups of our population. These disparities are related to race, sex, language, genetics, age, and income. We all could benefit from a more efficient system which removes or minimalizes disparities. The third difficult issue facing the health care system in the United States is paying for health care. In the United States, we have had insurance as the biggest payer of health care for many years. There has been evolution in the types of insurance and how they manage aspects of the business. Insurance companies have been held captive for the most part by the parties holding the checkbook, the employers who pay for the insurance for their employees. Employers need to enlighten themselves and begin to have an interest in accomplishing national health policy outcomes and protecting their employees (Williams & Torrens, 2010).

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