Discussion Question: Healthcare Costs

Healthcare costs are growing at a higher rate than the gross domestic product. This is alarming as increasing costs are unsustainable in our current economy. The United States spends more per capita on healthcare than any other country in the world. In spite of this fact, the outcomes of care, such as infant mortality or longevity, are not any better in the United States than in other countries (Lighter, 2011; Finkler, Jones, & Kovner, 2013).

For this discussion, research major approaches to stemming the rise in healthcare costs and select two for in-depth study. Be sure to select approaches different from those of your peers.

Using the readings for this week and the Internet, respond to the following:

• Explain in brief the major approaches to controlling healthcare costs.

• Describe in detail the two selected approaches.

• Compare and contrast the effectiveness of these two approaches to date.

References:

Finkler, S. A., Jones, C. B., & Kovner, C. T. (2013). Financial management for nurse managers and executives (4th ed.). St. Louis, MO: Saunders/Elsevier.

Lighter, D. (2011). Advanced performance improvement in health care: Principles and methods. Sudburg, MA: Jones & Bartlett.