Discussion 1:
Discuss the following statement: “Health care costs are out of control in the United States, and
increasing conflicts between employers and employees are likely as employers try to reduce their
health benefits costs.
Reply_1 for Discussion 1:
According to Ahn, H. (2021)The U.S. government spends a lot of money on health care and
subsidizes COBRA premiums for laid off workers and their families. However, healthcare costs
continue to rise and the government’s national programs and policies don’t seem to be doing
anything to lower them. Health care costs are also being pushed up by short-term factors, such as
the 2020 financial crisis. Currently, the average annual increase in individual health insurance is
4.5 percent.
Among the sources of rising health care costs is the system used to measure costs. Few providers
have a clear understanding of what it costs to provide care and compare that cost to the outcomes.
Instead, costs are aggregated at the department or specialty level. This creates problems, because
patients’ health could worsen and require more costly services. This leads to increased conflict
between employers and employees. A better approach is to communicate the costs of health care
with employees and let them take responsibility for the cost of their health.
Despite rising costs, American doctors are not complaining. They are still making a lot of money
compared to other countries, with average salaries of nearly two hundred and forty thousand
dollars. This isn’t just because American doctors are paid more. Hospital services, diagnostic tests,
and administrative costs are more expensive than in many other countries. In fact, the American
health care system is far from perfect, and many experts say that the high costs of health care are
due to high utilization rates. However, in the past, Americans spent more on social programs than
in other countries(Ahn, H. (2021).
The U.S. spends more than any other country, and the growth of specialty drugs is outpacing the
growth of traditional pharmaceuticals. Per member health insurance spending increased by 26
percent from 2013 to 2014. Although retail clinics are popular with employers and convenience
seekers, they are less popular with American individuals. Retail clinics offer convenience and a
lower co-payment for procedures and tests that previously required an inpatient setting.
The government’s involvement in health care markets has led to higher costs. Government-run
health care systems often limit patient choice and fail to incentivize efficiency and patient-centered
care. Government-managed cost containment will only hurt access and quality of care. This should
be considered carefully. While the government can’t control every aspect of the health care
industry, it can help reduce administrative costs.
As a result of rising costs, many Americans are delaying needed medical care. Many people who
are uninsured have cut pills in half or skipped doses of medicine because they cannot afford them.
Those with lower incomes face greater difficulties affording care and delay seeking treatment.
They may also be reluctant to seek care because of the cost. These financial burdens are
particularly damaging for people who do not have access to insurance( Ding et al.,2021).
The government’s attempt to take over the health care industry would be a massive enterprise,
consolidating federal control of the entire sector. With a total government takeover, the health care
industry would be completely politicized, limiting the number of coverage options available for
individuals. It would also limit innovation and prevent access to high quality care. In sum, the
government’s proposed solution would do more harm than good.
References
Ahn, H. (2021). A health opportunity cost threshold for cost-effectiveness analysis in the United
States. Annals of internal medicine, 174(1), 25-32.
Ding, Y., Zvenyach, T., Smolarz, B. G., & Ramasamy, A. (2021). Direct medical costs of obesity
in the United States and the most populous states. Journal of Managed Care & Specialty
Pharmacy, 27(3), 354-366.
Discussion 2:
What should be included in disaster planning for a large employer in Annapolis, Maryland, that is
concerned about natural disasters such as floods and snowstorms that might shut down the
company and parts of the city?
Reply_1 for Discussion 2:
What a disaster plan for a large employer in Annapolis looks like involves putting plans in place
to protect employees and business assets. The process starts with an assessment of the
organization. Representatives from departments should assess how disasters would affect the
company. Then, a plan is put into place to respond to the different scenarios. The plan must include
various backup databases and information about the employees. Without this, your efforts to plan
a disaster could be a complete waste of time(Sharkey, C. M. (2022).
Businesses have many things to consider when preparing for a disaster. Think about how your
customers or suppliers will feel in the event of a disaster. You’ll also need to think about the impact
on your buildings and contents. Think about how much your business would lose if you were
forced to close your doors. Then, figure out how much it costs if you’re left without a place to
conduct business.
While the federal government may have imposed many regulations, most states have adopted a
disaster plan to protect businesses. The Maryland Emergency Management Agency, for example,
created a new program called Open for Business. This program allows business owners to create
formal processes for analyzing their company’s needs. A well-planned plan will ensure business
continuity. And since the government can’t predict disasters, the process is vital to ensuring
ongoing operations and safety(Van Zandt, S. (2021).
Performing a proper Disaster Planning for a Large Employer in the Annapo area is crucial to
ensuring that your business is ready for emergencies and recovers quickly. There are many ways
to implement disaster planning within your organization. It is imperative to evaluate the risk factors
of your business, and identify any weaknesses that may prevent disasters from occurring. You may
also wish to consider training your employees to prepare for such events.
Developing an effective disaster plan will protect your business and its employees, and it will
ensure its survival. If disasters do strike, an effective disaster plan can mean the difference between
staying in business and closing. Disaster planning for a large employer in Annapo is an easy way
to ensure your business’s survival. It focuses on prevention, and regular audits of your safety
systems can help you determine what risks are most important to your company(Van Zandt, S.
(2021).
A disaster planning policy paper should show various categories of natural disasters, and what
controls are in place to combat them. A natural disaster can cause a company to close its doors, so
your policy must provide ways to cope with events like snowstorms or flooding. A disaster
planning policy paper should also address other potential issues that may affect business, such as
snowstorms or hurricanes. For example, a company may need to close for a week during a storm
or lose its entire workforce during a snowstorm. A disaster planning policy should show how to
handle a natural disaster, and how to deal with the impacts of a crisis, including how to protect
assets.
References
Sharkey, C. M. (2022). Common Law Tort as a Transitional Regulatory Regime: A New
Perspective on Climate Change Litigation. Climate Liberalism: Perspectives on Liberty, Property,
and Pollution (Palgrave: Jonathan Adler ed.)(forthcoming 2022).
Van Zandt, S. (2021). To Rebuild or Relocate? Long-Term Mobility Decisions of Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) Recipients. Sustainability, 13(16), 8754.
Reply_2 for Discussion 2:
Disaster Planning
A natural or man-made disaster that causes physical harm or devastation, loss of life, or often
lasting change to the natural surroundings is a disaster. Disaster planning is the process of
preparing for large-scale destruction resulting from both natural and man-made catastrophes.
Strategic planning should be in place for businesses. The first stage is to form an emergency
preparedness team, which consists of management and personnel who brainstorm worst-case
situations, identify possible risks, and plan to react and evacuate fast and safely. The names and
responsibilities of each team member participating in the disaster recovery process should be listed
in the plan. The members of the team or teams must be specified by title, position, and name. In a
small facility or division with only a few employees, the entire workforce may be identified as the
Disaster Recovery Team, with one individual in charge of the relief effort (Donnell, 2017).
Since 2010, public health and safety funds have brought nearly $20 million to Annapolis. The
majority of this money will be used to boost the effectiveness of the fire department, police dept.,
public works dept., planning and zoning, information systems, and transportation. During a
disaster, most Annapolis firms work with public funds to commence emergency action. Maryland
is dependent on a couple of catastrophic events, and flooding is having a significant impact on the
state. The Baltimore region is helpless due to weather-related problems (Tabish & Syed, 2015).
Even specific weather events can aggravate control and other utilities for delayed times. Ellicott
City is not the only area in Maryland that has experienced flooding. The statement that the
management group must keep in mind they are in charge of following work regulations and norms
regardless of the circumstances is a critical component of this catastrophe plan. There are various
types of disasters that affect the association in multiple ways. Therefore the organization must be
given the option to figure out how to retain every part safeguarded from the disaster.