Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right. The World Health Organization promotes access to healthcare for all and strives to implement initiatives to support this mandate. The WHO states, “the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health is one of the fundamental rights of every human being without distinction of race, religion, political belief, economic or social condition” (Ghebreyesus, 2017). To support this mandate, I believe that the United States Government should provide access to healthcare and disease prevention programs to all. The current value-based health program for the U.S does not support the WHO mandate. This current U.S. program does not provide healthcare to citizens regardless of their socioeconomic status. This results in a lack of health services for citizens that cannot afford private insurance provided by an employer. According to DeNisco, the value-based system creates free-market conditions resulting in an inverse relationship between price and quantity (2019). This type of market has led to health inequality in the U.S.
The United States has a healthcare system run by privately funded insurance and healthcare administration. No central department of the government oversees all aspects of the health system. Departments such as Medicare and Medicaid help determine public-sector expenditures, reimbursement rates, regulations, and certification standards (DeNisco, 2021). The U.S. health system has resulted in health inequality influenced by socioeconomic factors. Advanced Practice Nurses (APRNs) are pivotal in helping to improve health equity and access to health care. The value-based system has created a greater need for healthcare providers. APRNs have become in high demand due to an increase in the quantity of access to healthcare.
Health care should be affordable and accessible to all; a flaw in our current system is that we have some of the best programs, techniques, and treatments in the world, but it is not accessible to all. If health inequality is not addressed, more and more individuals will continue to create a more significant problem with health disparities. This will place more responsibility on APRNs to support the public health sector and provide resources to those who suffer from health inequality.
DeNisco, S. M. (Ed.). (2021). Advanced practice nursing: Essential knowledge for the profession (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. ISBN-13: 9781284176124
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