• Implementing Value-Based Payment Reform: A Conceptual Framework and Case ExamplesLinks to an external site.
• Transforming Medicare’s Payment Systems: Progress Shaped by the ACALinks to an external site.
• The Future of Capitation: The Physician Role in Managing Change in PracticeLinks to an external site.
• How to Pay for Health Care: Bundled Payments Will Finally Unleash the Competition that Patients WantLinks to an external site.
• Health Care Crisis by the NumbersLinks to an external site.
• Explain why your method of reimbursement is the best method for the U.S. health care system.
• Identify how this reimbursement model has evolved.
• Determine how this reimbursement model has positively influenced cost, quality, and access of care.
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
Evolution and Impact of Value-Based Payment Reform in the U.S. Healthcare System
In recent years, the U.S. healthcare system has been undergoing significant transformations in payment methodologies to enhance the quality, efficiency, and accessibility of care. Among the various reimbursement models explored, value-based payment reform has emerged as a promising approach to align incentives with patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness. This essay delves into the evolution of value-based payment reform, its advantages over traditional payment models, and its positive impact on cost, quality, and access to care in the U.S. healthcare system.
Evolution of Value-Based Payment Reform
Value-based payment reform represents a departure from fee-for-service models by incentivizing healthcare providers based on the quality and outcomes of care delivered rather than on the volume of services provided. This shift aims to promote value over volume, encouraging providers to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care while improving patient outcomes. The evolution of value-based payment can be traced through various initiatives and policy changes, including the following milestones:
1. Implementation of Value-Based Payment Models: Initiatives such as accountable care organizations (ACOs), bundled payments, and pay-for-performance programs have been introduced to incentivize coordinated care, reduce unnecessary utilization, and improve patient outcomes.
2. Integration of Quality Metrics: Value-based payment models incorporate quality metrics and performance indicators to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery. Providers are evaluated based on patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and adherence to best practices.
3. Expansion of Alternative Payment Models: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has played a pivotal role in driving the adoption of value-based payment models through alternative payment models (APMs) and value-based purchasing programs.
Advantages of Value-Based Payment Reform
1. Cost Containment:
Value-based payment reform encourages cost-effective care delivery by incentivizing providers to focus on preventive services, care coordination, and population health management. This approach helps reduce unnecessary utilization and control healthcare costs.
2. Quality Improvement:
By linking reimbursement to quality metrics and patient outcomes, value-based payment models drive improvements in care quality and patient safety. Providers are motivated to deliver evidence-based care that enhances clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
3. Enhanced Care Coordination:
Value-based payment reform promotes care coordination among providers, leading to better transitions of care, reduced duplicative services, and improved continuity of care. This collaborative approach enhances patient experiences and outcomes.
4. Improved Access to Care:
By emphasizing preventive services and population health management, value-based payment models aim to improve access to care for underserved populations. Providers are incentivized to address social determinants of health and reduce disparities in healthcare access.
Conclusion
In conclusion, value-based payment reform represents a transformative shift in the U.S. healthcare system towards incentivizing high-value care delivery. Through the evolution of alternative payment models and the integration of quality metrics, value-based payment has positively influenced cost containment, quality improvement, care coordination, and access to care. By aligning financial incentives with patient outcomes and value-driven care, value-based payment reform holds the potential to drive sustainable improvements in healthcare delivery and outcomes. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, embracing value-based payment models can pave the way for a more efficient, effective, and equitable healthcare system that prioritizes patient-centered care and population health management.
