Benchmark Assignment—Finance Trends

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Introduction:
The healthcare industry is rapidly evolving, and financial and economic issues have become a significant concern. With increasing costs and changing regulations, it is challenging to sustain quality healthcare services. As a medical professor, I have analyzed various financial and economic issues and their impacts on the healthcare industry. In this paper, I will discuss a current financial or economic issue in the healthcare industry and provide recommendations for improving the situation.

Answer:
One of the most significant financial and economic issues affecting the healthcare industry is the increasing costs of healthcare services. With technological advancements and an aging population, healthcare costs are on the rise, making it less affordable for patients. The economic trends of the current healthcare payment system are generally fee-for-service, where healthcare providers are rewarded for the volume of services delivered, regardless of the outcome. This payment model creates an incentive to provide more services, leading to increased costs.

The supply and demand challenges for healthcare services contribute significantly to the rising costs of healthcare. As the population grows, the demand for healthcare increases, leading to waiting times for patients to receive medical care. This puts significant pressure on healthcare providers to deliver services promptly, leading to increased costs.

Regulatory issues also affect the healthcare industry, with changes in regulations leading to additional costs. For instance, the Affordable Care Act has led to increased regulation and reduced reimbursements for healthcare providers. The changing regulations have also encouraged consolidation among healthcare providers, leading to higher costs of healthcare.

The financial impact of the increasing costs of healthcare has led to fewer people seeking medical care, leading to reduced revenue for healthcare providers. The healthcare providers are then forced to increase their prices to make up for the lost revenue, contributing to an endless cycle of increasing costs.

To improve the issue, healthcare providers can adopt value-based payment models, which reward healthcare providers for providing better care instead of the number of services they deliver. This payment model requires healthcare providers to implement measures that improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs.

Another recommendation is the promotion of preventive healthcare services, reducing the need for medical care and decreasing healthcare costs. This will require healthcare providers to prioritize preventive care services such as regular checkups and immunizations.

In conclusion, the financial and economic issues affecting the healthcare industry require innovative solutions to improve the quality and reduce the costs of healthcare services. The adoption of value-based payment models and preventive healthcare services are some of the strategies that healthcare providers can implement to address the current healthcare challenges. By addressing these financial and economic issues, the healthcare industry can provide quality healthcare services affordably while ensuring financial sustainability.

References:
1. Cutler, D. M. (2019). Reducing health care spending while improving health care outcomes. JAMA, 321(20), 1965-1967.
2. Schramm, J., & Bowers, B. J. (2017). The value equation in health care. Nursing Administration Quarterly, 41(3), 201-206.
3. Schoenman, J. A. (2016). Insurance, Health, and Quality of Care: Is There a Nexus?. Journal of Health Economics, 50, 43-51.