HLT 205V Week 4 Complete Work Latest-GCU

HLT 205 Week 4 Topic 4 Discussion 1

Explain how gatekeeping reduces health care costs in the U.S. Is gatekeeping the most effective strategy for reducing health care costs, or are there more effective strategies that are currently being used?  Explain your reasoning with the support of references.

MORE INFO 

How gatekeeping reduces health care costs in the U.S

Introduction

Health care gatekeeping is a common feature of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other managed care plans. In this system, patients are generally required to see their primary care providers every 6 months. If they fail to do so, they could be sent to an “extension clinic” staffed by nurse practitioners or physician assistants who would determine whether the patient had been adequately covered by their HMO plan. If so, the patient would then be able to see any specialist of their choice at no charge (provided that certain criteria are met). However, it’s important not to confuse this type of gatekeeping with bad medicine!

Gatekeeping can help control health care costs in the U.S.

• Gatekeeping can help control health care costs in the U.S.

• Preventing unnecessary tests, medications and procedures is a great way to reduce health care costs.

• One example of this would be when someone has a headache but doesn’t need an MRI or CT scan to determine its cause; instead, they could simply see their primary care physician for advice on how best to treat their symptoms at home with over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol).

• Another example would be getting vaccinated against influenza virus—a vaccine that has been shown to reduce deaths by 20% among people aged 65 years old and above who had not previously received it during previous flu seasons (1). If you want your doctor/nurse practitioner/physician assistant/etcetera recommend this type of preventive measure for you? They’ll likely ask what other conditions might exist which may make them more susceptible due yourself at risk upon becoming infected by these germs while coughing up phlegm into your throat! This means they won’t make any recommendations unless there’s something else wrong besides having colds repeatedly throughout every season where temperatures reach above 50 degrees Fahrenheit outside.”

Gatekeeping is a common feature of health maintenance organizations (HMOs).

In the United States, gatekeeping is a common feature of health maintenance organizations (HMOs). HMOs are a type of managed care plan designed to keep costs down by limiting patients’ access to specialists, who might be more expensive than primary care doctors. An HMO will require that you see your primary care doctor before seeing a specialist—so if you’re sick and can’t afford to go see the doctor right away, there’s no need for them to see any other providers first.

In contrast with this practice in many other countries around the world where most people seek medical attention from multiple providers at once and have their needs met quickly and efficiently by those who know best how each case should be handled

Gatekeeping can help patients comply with preventive treatments.

The ability for a patient to see their doctor before getting a prescription is one of the most common reasons why people follow through with taking medication. If you have to wait for an appointment at the primary care physician, it’s easier to stick with your treatment plan than if you just pop in and out of the office.

If your insurance company requires that certain types of services are performed by specialists (such as colonoscopies), then those patients are more likely to go through with all recommended tests and treatments. And if they don’t have any other way of accessing these services but through specialists, then they may be required by insurers’ policies not only pay higher co-pays but also undergo additional tests which could result in additional costs down the road if there’s an error made during surgery or other treatment procedures performed incorrectly due lack experience operating rooms available locally.”

Gatekeeping may improve patient outcomes.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, gatekeeping can help improve patient outcomes by reducing the cost of health care and improving compliance with preventive treatments. The study also found that patients who were assigned a gatekeeper were more likely to adhere to their medications and follow-up appointments than those without such a person on board.

Takeaway:

Gatekeeping is a common feature of health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and can help patients comply with preventive treatments. For example, an HMO may require that patients stay within a certain distance from their doctor’s office in order to be able to get appointments on time. The goal is less expensive care for everyone involved—the doctor, the patient, and even the insurance company itself.

So far we’ve seen how gatekeeping reduces costs by boosting adherence rates; but there’s another way: it can also improve patient outcomes by reducing unnecessary hospitalizations related to preventable conditions like heart disease or stroke.

Conclusion

I don’t want to pretend that gatekeeping is an easy way to improve health care outcomes or reduce costs. But the evidence suggests that gatekeeping can be effective if it’s done right. And in some cases, it may even be worth it just to have the peace of mind that comes from knowing your doctor has been vetted by a third party before seeing patients.