Answer

Population Health

Population health is defined as “the health outcomes of a group of individuals, including the distribution of such outcomes within the group” (Woolf & Aron, 2013). It is a method of health with an aim to advance the health services of an entire human population. While The United States has made recommendable steps in ensuring that all citizens can access affordable healthcare through several actions and initiatives such as Obamacare, it has not adequately addressed the issue as in some developing and developed countries. As one of the countries whose GDP appear among the top, the United States should have either universal health care system or free health system that will ensure that all people can access health needs in the country.

Healthcare system that the US should adopt is universal health care. It refers to the health care system that offers healthcare and financial protections to all people of a specific country. It is prepared around providing a stated package of assistance to all members of the community or state with the goal of offering financial risks protection, better access to health care services, and enhanced health outcomes (Dye, Reeder, & Terry, 2013). This system was first adopted in the Germany in 1883 and has worked very well for the country. Another health system that has been approved by South Africa, a developing country is the single-payer system. Notably, Single-payer healthcare is a system financed by taxes that shelters the charges of indispensable healthcare for all inhabitants, with the costs covered by one public system.

There are several recommendations to achieve full universal health care and single-payer systems in the United States. The first suggestion is strengthening the primary health care systems. Secondly, the government should facilitate accessibility and the coverage outcomes. Lastly, there should be innovations in central care management, financing, and delivery.

Primary care is ground zero for the functioning system of healthcare. Therefore, the current principal care should be reinforced to pave the way for a fully adopted universal system. According to Frenk (2015), primary health care system is the first line of interaction for most individuals into the healthcare system. It is the initial place individuals go when they are unwell, and where illnesses are discovered and diagnosed.

Increasing coverage and accessibility are also perilous components of adopting universal health care. According to Vega (2013), some of the chief factors limiting the access include geography, in specific, how to safeguard access for persons in rural areas, isolated regions, and fragile states, as well as the affordability.

One of the critical factors as to whether or not universal healthcare remains just a goal or befits reality depends on the finding the sustainable and innovative financing mechanisms. This is the reason as to why prominent international organizations like the World Bank, WHO, and International Monetary Fund are working hard to identify innovative financing.

When such changes are implemented there will be a total improvement in health care services in several ways. First, the government will have high bargaining power since they will be the only player on the cover hence can reduce the amount of money charged in favor of both parties. This will reduce the healthcare expenses. Secondly, the aim of population health which is to ensure a healthy living shall be attained since every person will have the opportunity to access medical services.