Issues in Healthcare

          The healthcare system in America seems to be under constant criticism. I am not someone who keeps up with all of the changes or the hottest political news topics. I honestly probably should much more than I do. However, whenever I do tune in it seems to be that some aspect of healthcare in America is being discussed. There is either some attempted reform going on, or maybe some candidate is using a healthcare policy as their ticket into office. As someone who doesn’t keep up too closely it is hard for me to pick a specific topic to discuss about in regards to healthcare. I did think it possible though, to discuss the barriers that come up whenever healthcare reform is brought to the table.      The biggest issue when it comes to improving the healthcare system is politics. The political climate in the United States has become just extraordinarily polarizing. The two major parties are now simply refusing to meet in the middle and fin...

    One aspect of American healthcare (and healthcare in general) is the exclusion of dental and vision services from primary offered services. Medicaid will cover dental services for all children; however, each state will determine which dental benefits adults are eligible for. Most states provide emergency dental services for adults, but a minority provide comprehensive dental care. Since there are no minimum requirements for adult dental coverage, even emergency dental services are not guaranteed depending on which state you're in. In Michigan, routine exams and cleanings are covered under the Healthy Michigan Plan. However, in Florida (my home state) Medicaid coverage for dental exams and x-rays is very limited, and services must be considered "medically necessary" to be covered for those 21 years old and older. Similarly, Medicaid vision coverage differs from state to state, with children being generally covered and no federal minimum requirements for adults.   ...

The bottleneck of providers in the US with limited residency match programs is a significant issue in the healthcare industry. Residency programs are the next step in medical education after students complete medical school, and they provide hands-on training and experience in a clinical setting. These programs are essential for the development of new healthcare providers and for ensuring that patients have access to quality care. Just because you complete medical school, doesn't mean that you automatically get to practice in the field you want, which sounds completely ridiculous. Imagine spending all that time and hard work getting to and through medical school, and you don't match to a residency program. There is a limited number of residency positions in the US, which can create a bottleneck for students who have completed medical school and are looking to begin their residency. According to the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), there were 38,106 applicants for 35,1...