Question

What societal changes have affected the cost of health care? How has the government responded to contain and reduce health care spending? What role should government play in controlling the cost of care and ensuring health coverage?

Answer 1

The cost of health care rising has been an important matter that the government has dealt with for many years but still struggles to maintain. The rising costs are related to many different societal changes such as increased demand for medical services, new advancements in technology, cost shifts due to poorly funded medical programs, and due to health care regulations and mandates. By controlling the cost of health care, government is providing opportunities for the population to live healthier and longer lives. Currently it appears that the measures taken by government officials to contain health care costs is through new laws and regulations embedded within the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which was introduced to the public as a more reasonably priced alternative to health care coverage.

The government’s role in health care should be limited to only government funded items relative to the health care industry and everything else should be handled by those receiving (patients), providing (physicians), or funding (insurance) services. If the government does not provide funding to an area but still has involvement in the processes or structure it tends to mean that there are “more hands in the pot” which can ultimately create more chaos within health care.