Download the report “Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2017 to 2026” from the Congressional Budget Office website.
Read Ch. 5 of the report.
Select one of the health options listed.
Select a health care facility or service (e.g., hospital, physician practice, long-term care facility, ambulance service, pharmacy, or skilled nursing facility), and evaluate the effects that implementing the health option would have on a health care facility or service you selected.
Write a 350- to 525-word article about your evaluation and proposed changes to the facility or service that can help mitigate negative effects.
Publish the article on your own social media account (e.g., LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.), or post it on a health care message board of your choice.
Include a citation of your article in your assignment.
Cite 3 reputable references to support your assignment (e.g., trade or industry publications, government or agency websites, scholarly works, or other sources of similar quality).
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: This assignment requires students to evaluate the effects of implementing a health option on a healthcare facility or service of their choice and propose changes that can help mitigate any negative impact. Students are also required to publish their article on their social media accounts or post it on a healthcare message board of their choice and cite reputable references to support their assignment.
Answer: The health option I have selected from the report “Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2017 to 2026” is to limit Medicaid drug reimbursements in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government. The healthcare facility that I have chosen for the evaluation of the effects of implementing this policy is a pharmacy.
Implementing this policy can significantly reduce the drug reimbursement rates for Medicaid beneficiaries in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government. This can reduce the revenue of pharmacies, which can also lead to a reduction in staff salaries and other expenses. Pharmacies may also be under pressure to source cheaper drugs, which can compromise patient safety and quality of care.
To mitigate the negative effects of this policy on pharmacies, the following changes can be proposed. Firstly, pharmacies can negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to source cheaper drugs without compromising patient safety and quality of care. This can help maintain the revenue of pharmacies and prevent staff layoffs. Secondly, pharmacies can improve their operational efficiency by adopting digital technologies to reduce costs and improve patient satisfaction. For example, investing in an e-prescription system can reduce the time spent by pharmacists on manual data entry and improve patient experience.
In conclusion, implementing the health option of limiting Medicaid drug reimbursements in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government can have a significant impact on pharmacies. However, the proposed changes such as negotiating with pharmaceutical companies and adopting digital technologies can help mitigate the negative effects.
Expert Solution Preview
The health option I have selected from the report “Options for Reducing the Deficit: 2017 to 2026” is to limit Medicaid drug reimbursements in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government. The healthcare facility that I have chosen for the evaluation of the effects of implementing this policy is a pharmacy.
Implementing this policy can significantly reduce the drug reimbursement rates for Medicaid beneficiaries in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government. This can reduce the revenue of pharmacies, which can also lead to a reduction in staff salaries and other expenses. Pharmacies may also be under pressure to source cheaper drugs, which can compromise patient safety and quality of care.
To mitigate the negative effects of this policy on pharmacies, the following changes can be proposed. Firstly, pharmacies can negotiate with pharmaceutical companies to source cheaper drugs without compromising patient safety and quality of care. This can help maintain the revenue of pharmacies and prevent staff layoffs. Secondly, pharmacies can improve their operational efficiency by adopting digital technologies to reduce costs and improve patient satisfaction. For example, investing in an e-prescription system can reduce the time spent by pharmacists on manual data entry and improve patient experience.
In conclusion, implementing the health option of limiting Medicaid drug reimbursements in states with drug prices that exceed the average price paid by the Federal Government can have a significant impact on pharmacies. However, the proposed changes such as negotiating with pharmaceutical companies and adopting digital technologies can help mitigate the negative effects. It is important for policymakers and healthcare providers to work together to strike a balance between reducing healthcare costs and maintaining the quality of care for patients.
