Course Learning Outcomes

The learning outcome of this course involved the identification of the fundamental aspects and history of the healthcare system of the U.S. public and private sectors. One of the readings which covered the learning outcome is Shi and Singh (2022). The topics in the book that were most relevant to the course learning outcomes include An Overview of the U.S. Health Care Delivery (Chapter 1), Belief, Values, and Health (Chapter 2), and The Evolution of Health Services in the U.S. (Chapter 3). The content covered in the learning outcome is significant to intellectual growth. To understand where the country is and where it is heading in the future, I must appreciate where it has come from. The content helps me appreciate what has worked and think of ideas on how to solve current and future problems.

The material we covered in the learning outcome was insightful and interesting. I have learned how the U.S. healthcare system has evolved and the laws and policies that facilitated it. The government has played a significant role in influencing the changes in the healthcare system. Although the government’s interventions were made in good faith, there have been unintended consequences. The negative impacts experienced give ideas on what should be done to avoid similar problems. The learning material and the assignment covered determinants of health. I learned about several factors that influence an individual in using a healthcare service. I now understand how cultural and religious values, education, beliefs, and income can influence a person’s ability to utilize available healthcare services. Before this lesson, I thought the only factor that influence one’s access to healthcare services was money (income) or insurance. Besides merely understanding the factors that impact people’s choices of health care service, I have also understood the interventions needed by the policymakers and the government to remove potential barriers to health care access.

In the materials covered, I noted something interesting about the revolution of the U.S. healthcare system. I knew healthcare is medical-driven until we covered this topic. Contrary to my earlier knowledge, I was surprised that healthcare is currently partly influenced by American values and consumerism. Becoming involved in one’s care is a good thing, but dictating the prescribed drugs seems to be reversing the gains that have been made in the past. The role of government in the U.S. healthcare system has evolved. Unlike when the sector was less regulated, it has become one of the most regulated industries in the world. Much of the focus in the government’s involvement in healthcare has been on access, insurance cover, cost, types of services, safety and quality, and utilization. Some prominent figures in healthcare regulation include Senators Lister Hill (Alabama) and Harold Burton (Ohio), whose efforts led to the Hospital Survey and Construction Act of 1946, also referred to as the Hill-Burton Act. Healthcare financing is crucial for the access to healthcare services. The government has been active in ensuring improved access through legislation. Three presidents who contributed significantly to the healthcare regulation that enhanced access are Franklin Roosevelt (the Social Security Act), Lyndon B. Johnson (Medicare and Medicaid), Ronald Reagan (prospective payment system (PPS)), and Barack Obama (Affordable Care Act).

This learning outcome was covered accurately and substantially. I have read extensively related content in materials outside the ones we used in class and found all the content is included. There is nothing significant that was not covered or any inaccurate content. The learning outcome includes coverage and understanding of the evolution of the U.S. healthcare system, determinants of health, the government’s impact on the U.S. healthcare system, and a comparison of the U.S. healthcare system with that of other selected countries. For example, through the effect of government on the healthcare system, I have learned the importance of legislation in solving problems or contributing positively to the healthcare system. The previously passed legislation, including Medicaid, Medicare, and recently the Affordable Care Act, has significantly improved access.