Question

Answer the following questions: A. Describe the differences between local, state, and federal health departments. B. Identify 6 factors that influence health care costs. C. Describe how each of them affects health care costs.D. What resources are available to assist clients with healthcare costs. Provide APA reference page

Answer 1

Federal health department	state health department	Loca health department
Sets National policies	manage public hospitals	provide environmental health related services( eg water disposal,water flouridation,food safety monitoring)
Policy making and regulation	Licence private hospitals	delivers some community based health and support services
Health information coordination	responsible for public community based primary health services( including mental health, dental health,drug servi	delivers some public health promotion activities
Responsible for medical care (subsidising joint funding with state and territories of public health services	deliver preventive services such as cancer screening and immunization programs
Funds community controlled primary health care	responsible for ambulance services
Funds pharmaceuticals through pharmaceutical benfit schemes	handling health complaints
Regulates private health insurances
Major funder of health and medical research through National and Medical research council
Regulates supply and quality of medicines,devices and blood

B : 6major factors that affect health cost are:-

* Demographic factors and patient characteristics.

* Life style related diseases

* Expensive medical treatment, technology and drugs

* Health insurances

* Technology

* Consumers lack of information

* Market power

C: *Demographic factors  

Demographic factors includes age sex race ,health status of population.Thus can make a significant difference in health care expenditure. Growing population which is another factor which will result in inefficient inadequate supply of health care facility.Another factor which includes aging polpulation They may long stay in hospital which may cause an extra burden to health care system.

*. Life style related diseases

Life style disease is very common among current population.Most of the polpulation is diabetic ,hypertensive and another problem is obesity.All these life style disease are causing more spending more money on health.

* Health insurance

Heslth insurance in some way tries to help the cost of health.But those who cannot afford the cost of some private insurances ate affected.

* Technology

This is having a significant effect on cost of health care.Now the focus is on evidence based practice and hence the cost of technology like radiology , treatment is too high for the patients to afford.

* Market power

Hospitals ,physicians and other providers have been consolidating at a rapid rate and merging with others can give them a greater market power over patients, insures and more liverage in payment rate negotiations.

* Lack of information

Most of the patients are unaware about the government subsides and policies available for them. This can lead them to end up in private insurance policies and more expenditure.

D resource available to assist client in health cost

Health insurances :-

*Choose the plan right for you

* Use a healthhcare savings account

* Choose in network health providers