Term Paper on "Health Insurance Costs Name the Four Acts"

Term Paper 3 pages (1079 words) Sources: 1+

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Health Insurance Costs

Name the four acts controlling hospital costs through regulations, describe one in full detail. Discuss the evolution of health insurance as a third party payment system and discuss the role of government in health care funding.

Name the four acts controlling hospital costs through regulations, describe one in full detail.

The 1974 Health Planning and Resources Development Act

This Act created a national network of local health systems agencies, state health planning and development agencies, and state health coordinating councils. It shifted federal control of health resources to local agencies in a radical fashion, in an effort to contain healthcare costs. The National Council for Health Policy was created to aid in health planning on a federal level and a new provision was made for federal financial assistance for construction and modernization of health care facilities, specifically outpatient facilities, to contain costs. To further decentralize government health and resources planning, the day-to-day operation of the program was given to ten regional offices (Rubin 1974).

The Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1980 and 1981

The Acts repealed two increases in tax deductions scheduled to become effective on October 1, 1982. One provision would have, according to a summary of the words of the Act: "liberalized the medical deduction for the elderly and disabled by: allowing elderly or disabled people to deduct medical costs exceeding $25 rather than $35; and by including in the deduction the medical expenses of spouses who were not elderly or disabled."



The Health Insurance Portability Act of 1996

The purpose of the Act, in its own words was to contain costs through streamlining healthcare record-keeping "by encouraging the development of a health information system through the establishment of standards and requirements for the electronic transmission of certain health information."

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997

The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 encompassed the largest cuts in the history of Medicare. Cuts in Medicare accounted for almost one half of the total reduction in federal expenditures. The Act reduced Medicare payments by $119 billion, including $2.3 billion in graduate medical education (GME) payment reductions. "Medicare is the largest single source of financing of GME, which accounted for 7% of Medicare expenditures by 1999" (Phillips et al. 2004, p.71).

Q2: Discuss the evolution of health insurance as a third-party payment system

Healthcare only became a necessity when medical treatment became relatively safe and accurate. In 1929, "the first modern group health insurance plan was formed. A group of teachers in Dallas, Texas, contracted with Baylor Hospital for room, board, and medical services in exchange for a monthly fee. Several large life insurance companies entered the health insurance field in the 1930's and 1940's as the popularity of health insurance increased. In 1932 nonprofit organizations called Blue Cross or Blue Shield first offered group health plans. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans were successful because they involved discounted contracts negotiated with doctors and hospitals. In return for promises of increased volume and prompt payment, providers gave discounts to the Blue Cross and Shield plans" (History, 2010, Neurosurgery). However, all collection of payments was conducted, at that time, by Blue Cross.

More powerful unions began to unify workers together in collectives to facilitate bargaining with employers for… READ MORE

How to Reference "Health Insurance Costs Name the Four Acts" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Health Insurance and Diabetes Term Paper

Health Insurance and Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that is characterized by hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar levels. The disease can affect anyone, including children as young as a few… read more

Term Paper 7 pages (3009 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Insurance Healthcare Research Paper

Health Care System

United States Health Care System

An increase in the concentration of the health care costs and quality assurances within the context of the health reforms continue to… read more

Research Paper 8 pages (2587 words) Sources: 8 Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Health Care Drivers for Increased Medicaid Funding Research Paper

Health Care Drivers for increased Medicaid funding: A study in the United States.

The Per capita health care spending has increased to about 2,814 in 1990 to more than $7,000… read more

Research Paper 10 pages (3735 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

HIPAA Effects on Radiology Practice Term Paper

Health Insurance Portability and accountability Act (HIPPA) Effects on Radiology Practice



The paper provides an understanding of Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 and its… read more

Term Paper 12 pages (5161 words) Sources: 12 Style: APA Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

Healthcare Management Information Systems Telemedicine Research Paper

Healthcare Management Information Systems

Telemedicine

Telemedicine can be traced far back in the 1960 when the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) provided health care to it astronauts Bashshur &… read more

Research Paper 10 pages (3032 words) Sources: 10 Topic: Healthcare / Health / Obamacare

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>