Question

What are the different ways of classifying hospitals? Affordable Care Act closed the door on future physician-owned hospitals effective January 2011 if they want to participate in Medicare.  Do you think this is a good restriction? Why or why not?

Answer 1

Definition Of Hospital

According to WHO, A hospital is a residential establishment which provides short term and long term medical care consisting of observational , diagnostic, therapeutic and rehabilitative services for persons suffering or suspected to be suffering from a disease or injury and for parturients. It may or may not also provide services for ambulatory patients on an out patient basis.

Classification Of Hospital

1. Based on objective:

* General hospitals

* Special hospitals

* Teaching along Research hospital

2. Based on administration, ownership, control or financial income:

* Governmental or public

* Non governmental or private

* Semigovt hospital

* Voluntary agency hospitals

3. Based on length of stay:

* Short term or short stay hospitals ( stay less than 30 days)

* Long term or long stay hospitals ( stay more than 30 days)

4. Depending on type of medical staff:

* Closed staff hospital

* Open staff hospital

5. Based on bed capacity:

* Small hospital(up to 100 beds)

* Medium hospital ( more than 100 to less than 300 beds)

* Large hospital ( more than 300 beds)

6. Based on type of care:

* Primary care

* Secondary care

* Tertiary care

7. Based on teaching affiliation:

* Teaching hospital

* Non teaching hospital

8. Based on system of medicine:

* Allopathic hospital

* Ayurvedic hospital

* Homeopathic hospital

* Unani hospital

* Hospital of other system of medicine

9. Based on regionality:

* Regional hospital

* District hospital

* Sub district health complex

* Union health and family welfare centers

* Community clinics

10. As per WHO classification:

* Regional hospital

* Intermediate or District hospital  

* Rural hospital

  The Affordable Care Act ( ACA)

The Affordable Care Act ( ACA) also known as Obamacare was signed into law in 2010 . The act aimed to provide affordable health insurance coverage for all Americans. The ACA was also designed to protect consumers from insurance company tactics that might drive up patient costs or restrict care. Millions of Americans have benefited by receiving insurance coverage through the ACA. Many of these people where unemployed or had low paying jobs. Some could'nt work because of disability or family obligations. Others couldn't get decent health insurance because of preexisting medical condition such as a chronic disease. Conservatives objected to the tax increases and higher insurance premiums needed to pay for Obamacare. Some people in the health care industry are critical of the additional workload and costs placed on medical providers. They also think it may have negative effects on the quality of care.

According to my opinion this is a good restriction because it has the following advantages:

* Slows the rise of health care costs

* Cover 10 essential health benefits

* Coverage for preexisting condition

* Children can stay on their parent's health insurance plans

The ACA has been controversial despite these positive outcomes ,which are :

* Raised the income tax rate

* The ACA taxed those who didn't purchase insurance

* People chose to pay the tax rather than pay for coverage

* Pharmaceutical companies had to pay extra for closing " Doughnut hole " gap.