Description
Access the following Slideshare entitled, “2019 Edition—Health Costs 101Links to an external site.”. This Slideshare focuses on spending and financing methods within the US healthcare system; scroll down the page and review slides 20-29.
Pick one slide to discuss; specify the title and number of your slide. How do the images and data presented on the slide illustrate some of the concepts covered in the readings? Given what is presented on your slide, how has spending and/or funding changed over time? Given the current data and information in the reading, what do you think will happen with spending and/or financing within the next five to ten years?
Be sure to write an initial, substantive post by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and respond to two or more peers with substantive responses by Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT. A substantive initial post answers the question presented completely and/or asks a thoughtful question pertaining to the topic. Substantive peer responses ask thoughtful questions pertaining to the topic and/or answers a question (in detail) posted by another student. Support your statements with logic and cite any information that is specifically referenced in your comments. Post your initial response early and check back often to continue the discussion. Be sure to respond to your peers’ and instructor’s posts, as well.
peer response 1:
Jacqueline Lescroart
Title of slide: “Spending Distribution, Private Insurance vs. Out-of-Pocket
Number of slide: 28
The data presented on the slide illustrated that “other medical products” was the largest category for out-of-pocket spending. This includes “eyeglasses, over-the-counter medications, and durable items such as wheelchairs” (California Healthcare Foundation, 2019). This made me think about how necessary it is for people to take advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). FSAs give employees the opportunity to set aside income, that is pre-taxed, to pay for medical expenses that are out-of-pocket (Niles, 2021, pp. 195). Consumers could save so much money utilizing FSAs because not only are they cutting the cost of taxes, but the are learning to be more conscious of the money they are spending because it is coming out of their own pocket.
The information presented on my slide does not indicate how spending/funding has changed over time. My slide is based off of data from 2017 that compared the amount of money spent by private insurance versus the amount of money spend out of pocket on different healthcare categories such as hospital care, physician services, prescription drugs, etc. However, the data on slide 25 shows that out-of-pocket spending has trended upward since 1997 and more than doubled and so has private insurance spending, which has almost tripled.
According to the increase from 1997 to 2016, out of pocket spending increased an average of an estimated 22 billion per year but only increased about 9 million from 2016 to 2017. A similar trend was noticed in the private insurance spending category. From 1997 to 2016, the average yearly increase was about 86 billion per year, yet the increase from 2016 to 2017 was only 47.5 billion (California Healthcare Foundation, 2019).
California Health Care Foundation. (2019, May). Health Care Costs 101, 2019: Spending Keeps Growing. California Health Care Almanac. https://www.chcf.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/HealthCareCostsAlmanac2019.pdfLinks to an external site.
Niles, N. (2021). Basics of the U.S. healthcare system (4th ed.). Jones Bartlett Learning.
peer response 2:
Abraham Elazazy
Hey Class,
Title of slide “Spending Distribution, Medicare vs. Medicaid – United States, 2017” (#29)
The images and data on slide 29 depict the spending distribution between Medicare and Medicaid in the United States for the year 2017. The slide breaks down the largest expense categories for both programs, highlighting hospital care as the primary spending category for both Medicare and Medicaid. Additionally, it showcases the distribution of spending across various other categories such as physician and clinical services, prescription drugs, nursing care facilities, home health services, and more.
The information presented on slide 29 aligns with the concepts covered in the readings by illustrating the significant impact of hospital care on the budgets of both Medicare and Medicaid. It underscores the crucial role hospitals play in healthcare spending, reflecting the complex nature of medical treatment and care delivery.
The slide demonstrates how spending is distributed among various categories within Medicare and Medicaid. Hospital care stands out as the largest expense category for both programs, highlighting the substantial financial burden associated with inpatient and related healthcare services. This underscores the importance of hospital care in terms of resource allocation and funding.
Moreover, the slide illustrates the significant role of other categories such as physician and clinical services, prescription drugs, nursing care facilities, and home health services. These categories collectively represent the diverse array of healthcare services and supports that individuals need, emphasizing the complexity of healthcare financing and the wide range of costs involved.
In terms of spending and funding changes over time, the slide does not provide historical data, making it difficult to ascertain how spending patterns have evolved leading up to 2017. However, given the prominence of hospital care as the primary expense for both Medicare and Medicaid, it can be inferred that the demand for hospital services and associated costs have contributed to these high spending figures. Changes in demographics, healthcare utilization rates, medical advancements, and policy shifts might have influenced spending trends over the years.
Considering the current data it’s plausible to expect continued growth in healthcare spending within the next five to ten years. Factors such as population aging, increasing healthcare needs, advancements in medical technology, and potential policy changes could contribute to higher healthcare expenditures. Additionally, the shift towards more community-based and home-based care options, as evidenced by Medicaid’s spending in the “other health care” category, might continue to gain traction as an alternative to long-term institutional services.
Works Cited:
Niles, N. (2021). Basics of the U.S. healthcare system (4th ed.). Jones Bartlett Learning.
Piatak, J. S. (2017). Understanding the implementation of Medicaid and Medicare: Social construction and historical context. Administration & Society, 49(8), 1165-1190.
