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Write a 2 pages paper on health care reform (case study). Health Care Reform Health Care Reform Eric Wright, the director of the Indiana Center for Health and Policy (as cited in IU News Room, 2009), opines that the proposed structural changes will not be sufficient enough for the planned healthcare reform initiative to meet its desired goals effectively. Wright argues that the proposed policy fails to address many socio-cultural trends in the US society that are likely to contribute to mounting healthcare costs and people’s health concerns. Wright (2009) also says that these trends must be critically reviewed so as to meet ongoing changes in the US health care system. and the proposed plan would not reduce healthcare costs until US citizens change the way they perceive their own health improvement.

The plan was strongly supported by the Wellpoint CEO Angela Braly, one of the most powerful women in the United States. She states that “the high and rising cost of healthcare in America is just not sustainable” (as cited in Dayen, 2009). Braly criticizes the previous healthcare system administered by the federal government as she believes that it was inefficient to promote healthcare quality. She also believes that previous policy was a threat to government’s social and fiscal obligations and welfare of the American society. In addition, she recommends that insurance companies have a significant role to plan in promoting this healthcare initiative.

However, Republicans, as reported by Herwood (2010) strongly oppose the proposed healthcare reform initiative and they argue that the Obama administration is deceiving the country through this healthcare reform. Republicans argue that the low government reimbursement rates under this plan would adversely affect the financial interests of doctors. In addition, this reform proposal is likely to increase government spending by approximately $2 trillion. They also fear that the initiative will cause to create numerous bureaucracies, which in turn negatively affect the government’s role in healthcare. Finally, they argue that new fees and other charges will be indirectly passed to clients through premium increases.

While analyzing the Obama’s new healthcare reform legislation, it seems that this plan does not fit with the recommendations discussed above. The healthcare reform plan did not give any focus on socio-cultural aspects of the American society. Hence, the reform cannot effectively meet its aimed objectives, particularly cutting of health care costs. In addition, this legislation caused nearly 20 million of Americans to lose their employer provided insurance coverage. Due to the rigid nature of these policies, it cannot easily respond to different changes in market trends. To illustrate, this law would raise many challenges to innovations in drug development and other life-saving medical technology. Although experts like Braly recommended insurances companies to support this plan, reports (Frates, National Journal, 2012) indicate that the American health insurance industry lobby funneled nearly $102.4 million to the Chamber of Commerce to design advertisements to show the negative influences of the law on public.

As the insurance companies are secretly trying to defeat the healthcare reform, it may be difficult for the federal government to achieve its desired goals. Admittedly, some of the arguments of Republicans against this policy seem true. In short, the healthcare reform does not go in line with the recommendations put forward by experts and interest groups.

References

Dayen, D. (2009). The “Insurance companies support health care reform” gambit. Huff Post: Politics. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-dayen/the-insurance-companies-s_b_276838.html

Frates, C. (2012). Exclusive: AHIP Gave More Than $100 Million to Chambers Efforts to Derail Health Care Reform. National Journal, June 13. Retrieved from http://influencealley.nationaljournal.com/2012/06/exclusive-ahip-gave-more-than.php

Herwood, M. C. (2010). Republican view of health care reform. Yahoo Voices. Retrieved from http://voices.yahoo.com/republican-view-health-care-reform-5712146.html?cat=75

IU News Room. (2009). Health care reform debate: Indiana University experts offer perspectives, Indiana University, 18 June. Retrieved from http://newsinfo.iu.edu/tips/page/normal/11178.