The Evolution of Health Care Systems
Health care systems are the group of institutions, resources and people that deliver health services so as to meet the health needs of a specific population. There are numerous varieties of health care systems globally. Their histories are as many as the nations and their organizational structures.
Rhondda Tewes (2009) claims that the healthcare systems were relatively in expensive during the early stage of the 20th century, in fact, reformers advocated the sickness insurance, especially for the middle class. Later after the Great Depression ended in 1935, the Social Security Act became a law (Tewes, 2009). Concurrently, companies are providing health benefits to their employees through group health insurance that eventually became Health Maintenance Organizations or HMO (Tewes, 2009). In 1958, only 25 percent of the US citizens were not covered by private insurance. Decades have passed and many medical insurance policies were changed to current policies.
Thomas Conklin (2002) asserts that the present healthcare systems are considerably different than it used to be. Changes are numerous and yet represent major turning points from health security plan to managed healthcare system. Additionally, Conklin says there are factors that drive the change in healthcare systems such as cultural values and beliefs as well as important situational and economic factors (Conklin, 2002). In addition, Conklin asserts that managed care serves as the beginning of the Health Maintenance Organizations or HMOs, which focuses on optimizing health using preventive care, reducing overutilization as well as needless utilization of costly services and creating a standardized and controlled varied quality of care provided by fee-for-service providers (Conklin, 2002). These factors were primarily considered so as to ensure the effectiveness of healthcare plans, which more US citizens are now being covered by.
Annotated Bibliography
Tewes, R. (2009). Evolution of the Health Care System in the United States. Retrieved November 24, 2013, from http://montrose.co.lwvnet.org/files/hcet_bp_evolutionhealthcareus.pdf
Rhondda Tewes is a member of The League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan political group, which is dedicated to promote active participation of the citizens in the government. Her article tackles about the evolution of the health care in the United States. Researches include the system’s brief history covering from the early 20th century until the current health care system in the country. In contrast with other articles, Tewes’ includes factors triggers the development of the health care system in the country.
Conklin, T. P. (2002). Health Care in the United States: An Evolving System. Michigan Family Review, 7(1).
Thomas P. Conklin is the Executive Director of Catholic Family Services in Saginaw Michigan 48602. Conklin is also a Faculty member of the Department of Sociology at Saginaw Valley State University. Conklin’s journal portrays the economic factors affecting the change of a managed health care system, including its impact on customers, and what needs to be developed so as to successfully steer the system and support for future change, especially when it comes to giving access for all.
