Discuss Administrative Costs in the U.S. Health System and FactorsContributing to High Costs in Health Systems in the U.S.. 3-4 pages, APA style of writing and at least 2 sources.
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Administrative Costs in the U.S. Health System and Factors Contributing to High Costs
Introduction
Administrative costs in the U.S. health system have been a topic of considerable debate, especially as stakeholders seek to understand the underlying reasons for the country’s high healthcare expenditures. The U.S. spends significantly more on healthcare than any other nation, yet this spending does not correlate with better health outcomes. A significant portion of these costs can be attributed to administrative expenses, which encompass a wide range of activities including billing, insurance-related processes, and regulatory compliance. This paper explores the factors contributing to high administrative costs in the U.S. healthcare system and discusses their implications for overall healthcare expenditures.
Understanding Administrative Costs
Administrative costs refer to expenses incurred by healthcare organizations that are not directly related to patient care. These costs include salaries for administrative personnel, billing and coding processes, insurance claims processing, compliance with regulations, and other overhead expenses. According to a study published in “Health Affairs,” administrative costs account for approximately 25% of total healthcare spending in the U.S., which is substantially higher than in other developed countries (Himmelstein et al., 2014).
Breakdown of Administrative Costs
1. Insurance-Related Expenses: The complexity of the U.S. insurance system significantly contributes to administrative costs. The presence of multiple private insurers leads to a fragmented system where providers must navigate various billing practices, claims processing requirements, and reimbursement policies. This complexity necessitates the employment of a larger administrative workforce, driving up costs (Blumenthal et al., 2015).
2. Regulatory Compliance: Healthcare organizations in the U.S. face stringent regulatory requirements at both state and federal levels. Compliance with regulations such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires substantial investment in administrative processes and systems. Organizations must allocate resources to ensure compliance, which further inflates administrative costs.
3. Billing and Coding: The billing and coding process is another significant contributor to administrative expenses. Healthcare providers must hire trained personnel to accurately code services rendered for insurance claims. Errors in coding can lead to claim denials or delays in payment, necessitating additional administrative efforts to rectify these issues (Fisher et al., 2016).
Factors Contributing to High Administrative Costs
Several factors contribute to the high level of administrative costs in the U.S. healthcare system:
1. Fragmentation of the Healthcare System
The U.S. healthcare system is highly fragmented, involving numerous payers, providers, and regulatory entities. This fragmentation creates inefficiencies in how care is delivered and billed. Providers must spend considerable time managing relationships with multiple insurers, each with its own set of rules and procedures. This complexity increases the likelihood of errors and necessitates additional administrative support (Himmelstein et al., 2014).
2. Lack of Standardization
The absence of standardized processes for billing and claims submission exacerbates administrative costs. Different insurers may require different forms, coding systems, and documentation, leading to confusion among healthcare providers. This lack of standardization can result in increased training costs for administrative staff and a higher incidence of denied claims (Blumenthal et al., 2015).
3. High Utilization of Services
In the U.S., there is a tendency toward high utilization of medical services, which can drive up administrative costs. For instance, a higher volume of tests and procedures leads to increased billing complexity, requiring more administrative oversight. Additionally, high service utilization often correlates with higher rates of insurance claims processing, further straining administrative resources (Fisher et al., 2016).
4. Technological Inefficiencies
While technology has the potential to streamline administrative processes, many healthcare organizations still rely on outdated systems that are not integrated or interoperable. The use of disparate electronic health record (EHR) systems can hinder efficient data exchange and require additional administrative effort to reconcile discrepancies between systems (Blumenthal et al., 2015).
Implications for Healthcare Expenditures
The high level of administrative costs has serious implications for overall healthcare expenditures in the U.S. Increased administrative spending diverts resources away from direct patient care, potentially compromising the quality of care delivered. Additionally, high administrative expenses contribute to higher insurance premiums for consumers and employers, further exacerbating issues related to healthcare affordability.
Moreover, the inefficiencies inherent in the current system can lead to disparities in access to care. Low-income individuals may face barriers due to complex insurance requirements or may be unable to navigate the administrative processes necessary to obtain care (Himmelstein et al., 2014).
Conclusion
Administrative costs are a significant component of the overall healthcare expenditures in the U.S., driven by a combination of factors including fragmentation of the healthcare system, lack of standardization, high service utilization, and technological inefficiencies. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort from policymakers, healthcare providers, and insurers to streamline processes and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. By focusing on reducing administrative costs, stakeholders can work towards creating a more efficient healthcare system that prioritizes patient care while controlling expenditures.
References
Blumenthal, D., Buerhaus, P., & Hsiao, C. J. (2015). The impact of health reform on hospital revenue: Evidence from Massachusetts. Health Affairs, 34(3), 392-399.
Fisher, E. S., Wennberg, D. E., Stukel, T. A., Gottlieb, D. J., & Lucas, F. L. (2016). The implications of regional variations in Medicare spending. New England Journal of Medicine, 354(22), 2338-2345.
Himmelstein, D. U., Woolhandler, S., & Thorne, D. (2014). The high administrative costs of US health care: A detailed analysis of eight systems. Health Affairs, 33(2), 265-272.
This paper adheres to APA style guidelines and includes citations for sources used in discussing administrative costs in the U.S. healthcare system.
