Georgia Health Care System Essay

Words: 445
Pages: 2

Healthcare delivery system in Georgia is depending on so many factors but the main factors are “Cost, Access and Quality”. Of these, access to health care is most concerned issue with the health care delivery system not only in Georgia but in whole U.S. because of its high cost and delayed primary care services.
In Georgia medical care is very costly and to cover it health insurance is must, absence of which may cause delay in health care which could have been treated affordably and efficiently. According to one study, Georgia ranks in the top ten for citizens that avoid preventative care due to high cost and a lack of insurance and so people choose to remain uninsured or underinsured. Also, low-income or unemployed people lack health insurance
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patient has to wait long for primary care, non-emergency medical care services or diagnosis which may sometimes result in death of a patient. For example, Military veterans were dying because of long waits and delayed care at U.S. veterans hospitals.
Among 11 countries surveyed by Common Wealth Fund, U.S. is in the 10th position in providing basic care in proper time, just one place ahead of Canada but have a rapid access to emergency/specialized health care services. So, people in Georgia not having any financial resources or health care coverage, seek care in emergency room. A report in July 2009 also confirmed it, according to which uninsured patients comprise approximately one-fifth of all emergency room visits.
To improve the access, a new policy is implemented by the federal recently to increased patient cost-sharing with the tax-protected health saving account. One U.S. study of co-payment that followed chronically ill adults over the course of 4 years found that higher cost-sharing reduced care for both serious and minor symptoms (Ref: www.aaos.org). But the increased cost-sharing has unpropitious effect on patient access to timely care and that too mainly on low income populations. This further increases the risk of access impediment and monetary