402 Assignment 1

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School

Pima Community College *

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205IN

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Health Science

Date

Feb 20, 2024

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Zamzam Ismail HPS 402 Assignment 1 Rising Health Care costs  The reason for rising healthcare costs: According to Edington, the main reason why the United States spends more money on healthcare is because of the lack of preventative medicine. The United States spends more money on healthcare than domestic products, and the citizens have far worst health statistics as measured by adult and infant mortality rate and overall health status when compared with any other developed country. “This either means that medical care system is more overpriced and less effective, or that Americans are more prone to sickness than other societies of the world” (Edington, 2009). The way that the medical system is designed in the U.S is to wait until people get sick and then provide treatment. Because the U.S population is growing more and more unhealthy, the cost of health keeps increasing. According to people Keep, more than half of the U.S population have at least one chronic condition such as diabetes, heart disease, and Asthma while 85 percent of U.S healthcare costs if for treating chronic conditions (Smith, 2021). Recent data from the CDC outlines that forty percent of U.S adults are considered to be obese which leads to chronic conditions and increased healthcare costs. As people gain more weight they become prone to chronic illness increasing the average amount of cost of insuring each American. Wellness strategies become necessary in order to lower the cost of healthcare and to sustain overall health. Research by Tower Watson in 2009/2010 data shows that companies that implemented effective health and productivity programs achieved 11 percent more revenue per

employee, delivering 28 percent of higher shareholder returns, and lower medical costs along with fewer absences per employee.  The effect of the affordable healthcare act on companies, organizations, and the United States Since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, the American health care system has expanded to twenty million more Americans while saving many lives. The act provided protection for those with preexisting health conditions while eliminating patient cost-sharing. the act’s Medical Loss Ratio requires insurance companies to return money to policyholders and employers if they underspend 80 to 85 percent of their premium funds on medical care which requires Insurance companies to no longer require issuing rebates when they overcharge Americans returning about 1.37 billion dollars in medical loss ratio to policyholders (Nicole Rapfogel, 2020). The Act also provides protection to those with preexisting health conditions through essential health benefits including prescription drugs, maternity care, and behavioral health. This prevents insurance companies from screening out higher-cost patients by excluding basic benefits from coverages. The Affordable Care Act also prohibits insurance companies from setting an annual and lifetime limit on benefits which previously stopped people with a chronic condition to access necessary care which denied many Americans adequate financial protection from catastrophic medical issues. Additionally, Healthcare in the United States became more affordable once the ACA held private companies accountable for charging fair premiums whether it is for individual market policies or for employed-sponsored policies (Nicole Rapfogel, 2020).  The need for businesses to get involved

As a nation, we need to redefine and improve the countries health as more than the absence of a disease but also having the presence of energy and vitality. To enhance employee’s performance and ability, businesses are the only ones who can propose and evaluate the risk factors of individuals or employees working in a company and prioritize them based on the risk prevalence, participant’s readiness to change, and the cost of their impact on productivity. “That is if an organization or individual is investing in health management program, they will spend less money on medical cost one side of the economic equation while realizing improved health products on the other side. Having Businesses involved in will increase profits, and investment in a business which creates more jobs for the local economy” (Edington,2009). Take Rodale Inc, for instance, focuses on the health of their employees for the company's success and supports a strong culture of health throughout the organization. Rodale has a lower rate of employee turnover, less absenteeism, and a lower rate of obesity and heart disease compared to other companies with the same employee size. It is important that we take the opportunity of involving businesses to create more healthy and productive workplaces. today’s workplace and environment lead to higher health risks, higher probabilities of illnesses, and higher medical costs. We have to consider and take the steps of reducing health risks while creating more programs that focus on a smoke-free environment, trans fats, flexible working hours, and work- from-home opportunities. Businesses' involvement will help expand the effort of integrating the culture of health into the workplace while improving the overall productivity and health of the working individuals.  The effect of a "change of culture" in the workplace “Change of culture” in the workplace is proven to positively affect the behaviors of the employees. Culture influences change through different stages of development including the use

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of advanced technology, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic norms. Change of culture is considered to be the company’s asset, bride, innovation, and profitability (Edington,2009). Change of culture in the workplace brings norms related to workplace wellness such as weight management, physical activity, stress and tobacco management, and nutrition. Active healthy culture in the workplace can simplify the norms of wellness culture features which assists in improving productivity and for people to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

References: Edington, D. W. (2009). Zero trends: Health as a serious economic strategy . Health Management Research Center, University ofMichigan. Gantner, R. K. (2012). Workplace wellness: Performance with a purpose, achieving health dividends for employers and employees . Well Works Pub. n.d. (n.d.). Small business and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) . HealthCare.gov. https://www.healthcare.gov/small-businesses/learn-more/how-aca-affects-businesses/. Nicole Rapfogel, E. G. (2020, October 6). 10 ways the aca has improved health care in the past decade . Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/healthcare/news/2020/03/23/482012/10-ways- aca-improved-health-care-past-decade/. Smith, G. (2021, March 15). Seven reasons for rising healthcare costs . Hassle-Free Health Benefits. https://www.peoplekeep.com/blog/seven-reasons-for-rising-health-care-costs.

402 Assignment 1

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