Essay on "Health Care Costs"

Essay 2 pages (763 words) Sources: 4

[EXCERPT] . . . .

U.S. Census Bureau. (2011, September 13). Health insurance: Highlights: 2010. Retrieved

from http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/hlthins/data/incpovhlth/2010/highlights.html

Rising Costs have Limited Funding for Federal Health Care Programs

One of the problems with the rising cost of health care is that it has limited funding for federal health care programs. This seems difficult to imagine, with health care making up such a significant portion of the federal budget. After all, in 2008, "spending by all public programs -- including Medicare, Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance Program, and other programs -- accounted for 47% of health care spending" in the nation (MedPac, 2010). Medicare spending, in particular, has steadily increased as a percentage of the gross domestic product (MedPac, 2010). However, the more federal funds that are required to maintain the status quo in entitlement spending, the fewer federal funds are available for discretionary health care spending. The increase in costs has led to lesser funding for these programs, leaving the working poor the most vulnerable.

MedPac. (2010, June). A data book: Health care spending and the Medicare program.

Retrieved from: http://www.medpac.gov/chapters/Jun10DataBookSec1.pdf

Increased Costs Put Strain on Medical Supplies and Staff

Increased medical costs mean that medical facilities may need to reduce their budgets. Oftentimes, this results in decreasing staff numbers and not replacing medical equipment and supplies when necessary. This is particularly troublesome for large-scale care providers, like hospitals, where supplies form a significant part of their budgets. "Many -- but not all -- of the price hikes are driven by the continually-rising price of oil, but others are not" (Zieger, 2008). The relationship between medical supply costs and oil prices is not simply about transportation, some medical supplies, like latex gloves, require oil to manufacture them. However, they also happen to be critical in helping curb the spread of disease in a hospital environment. "All told, it's an ugly picture that shows no signs of getting better over the near-term. And with many hospitals at the break-even point or even losing money, supply costs could be the straw that breaks the camel's back for some" (Zieger, 2008).

Zieger, A. (2008, July 22). Rising medical supply costs squeeze hospitals. Retrieved December

5, 2011 from Fierce Health Finance website: http://www.fiercehealthfinance.com/story/rising-medical-supply-costs-pinch-hospitals/2008-07-22 READ MORE

How to Reference "Health Care Costs" Essay in a Bibliography

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