The healthcare system in the United States faces several challenges, including inequalities in access to care and health outcomes. Although the system is complex and multifaceted, many citizens struggle with receiving the medical care they need. Given the limited resources available to the American healthcare system, it is essential to consider the optimal way to distribute them (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2017, 1:24). Solutions that are in line with Biblical values, such as compassion, are necessary to address these problems.
The forces of supply and demand drive the direction of healthcare in the United States. The amount of a good that is demanded, in this case, healthcare, is influenced by the consumer’s tastes, spending power, and the market price (Gruber, 2011, 29:48). As a result, the cost of the inputs used to generate healthcare as well as the incentives for healthcare providers both have an impact on the healthcare resources available to the population. The fact that hospitals are for-profit organizations derives from the fact that their CEOs and administrators are tasked with producing profit rather than delivering comprehensive healthcare (Principles of Health Science, 2013, 1:05). It can be seen choices consumers and providers make within the limitations they confront have a stark impact on healthcare in the United States.
As certain citizens find supply-demand-driven healthcare lacking, the question of whether access to healthcare is a right arises. Considering that healthcare is crucial to people’s health and survival as individuals and as communities, it is challenging to contest the notion that access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. Access to high-quality healthcare is crucial for sustaining good health and treating illnesses. Therefore, efforts should be made to guarantee everyone has access to the care they require.
Numerous measures have been taken to address the problem of healthcare availability. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), in particular, has made a critical difference to the healthcare system. It has aided in expanding insurance access and raising healthcare standards for many people. However, it can be seen that other efforts are required to meet the nation’s healthcare demands completely, especially in terms of cutting prices and raising the quality of care.
Due to the enormity and complexity of the American healthcare system, numerous modifications will be needed to address its problems. By acknowledging the healthcare system’s complexity, health professionals can provide thorough solutions (Sweeney, 2004). The discrepancy in access to care and health outcomes is the most urgent problem that has to be addressed. Implementing laws and initiatives that ensure everyone has access to high-quality care, irrespective of their socioeconomic status, race, or place of residence, is thus a potential answer. This might include expanding access to insurance and increasing enrollment in government-funded programs like the ACA.
The Bible offers a rich and varied set of teachings that is relevant to the disparities of the healthcare system. The value of compassion is one of the most well-known biblical principles that can be applied. The Biblical principle of compassion states that “whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (English Standard Version Bible, 2001, Matt. 25:40). This emphasizes how crucial it is to guarantee that everyone has access to high-quality treatment and assistance. This principle is compatible with the proposed solution of expanding the existing initiatives in order to address inequalities in access to care and health outcomes,
In conclusion, access to healthcare is a critical issue that can be solved with Biblical ideals in mind. Although the ACA has made tremendous strides in expanding insurance access and raising the standard of care, certain measures remain to be taken to meet the nation’s healthcare requirements adequately. Biblical ideals such as compassion state that it is critical to incorporate policies and programs guaranteeing universal access to high-quality care.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2017). Economic Evaluation Webcast Part 1 of 5: Introduction to Economic Evaluation [Video]. YouTube. Web.
English Standard Version Bible. (2001). ESV Online. Web.
Gruber, J. (2011). Lecture 1: Introduction to microeconomics [Online Lecture]. Web.
Principles of Health Science. (2013). Hospital organizational structure [Video]. YouTube. Web.
Sweeney, K. (2004). Time for change? An exploration of complexity in health-care practice. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 11(11), 529–534. Web.