The article entitled “Comparative Effectiveness and Health Care Spending — Implications for Reform” by Weinstein and Skinner looks at the expenditure of the healthcare system and the effectiveness of the system put in place to monitor this expenditure in the United States. This article has an introduction and three sections that attempt to expound the cost effectiveness of minimizing spending in hospitals. Besides, it explores the redistribution of spending in hospitals (Pine et al., 2010).
The article is based on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which authorized the use of $1.1 billion in researches that would compare the effectiveness of clinical outcomes if a certain financial approach was employed in the management of hospitals. The federal government supports the comparative effectiveness and this was viewed as a way of controlling government expenditure in the healthcare systems (Pine et al, 2010).
This article looks at both sides of the debate by offering evidences that analyze the comparative effectiveness in relation to cost-effectiveness. The authors argue that for increased spending in healthcare to yield positive results, the correct way of spending the additional funds must be put in place. The authors support the cost effective stand over the comparative effectiveness perspective (Pine et al, 2010).
In addition, it relates the healthcare expenditure with the anticipated outcomes. In an efficient system, higher expenditure will result into better outcomes. The authors explore various levels where such expenditures can be deployed. The authors conclude by comparing the differences between the positive and negative impacts of increased and decreased spending in healthcare.
The article suggests that reduced expenditure results into poor services being offered since the cheaper option is substituted with the most effective method available in order to cut down spending (Pine et al., 2010). The article reviews the expenditure patterns and related outcomes at various production levels. At this point, it is evident that there is varied expenditure effectiveness from the various examples given in the article.
The expenditure levels are not the same at all. The common factor between the various levels of production is that, the increased spending in a cost effective way will offer improved outcomes of the process (Pine et al, 2010). The article is concluded by offering a recommendation that can be adopted to ensure effectiveness and quality at health facilities. The article suggests the use of cost effective services that are of quality (Jarousse, 2013).
The health department can cut down on expenses but this should not be done in a manner that should compromise quality. The arguments posed in this article are definitely correct. However, the authors fail to offer ways that can be used to implement the given methods especially if we consider both the financial and the quality aspect of the healthcare system in the United States.
The message passed by the article offers a base that can be used to further research on the most appropriate method of implementing a policy that will cut down the expenses incurred by the government in the daily running of hospitals. It is almost impossible to improve quality output in hospitals and at the same time cut down the related expenses (Jarousse, 2013).
This goes against the economic curve. However, from the information and evidences presented in the article, it is possible especially if the process of cutting down costs is implemented in a manner that will ensure sustained or improved quality in hospitals. The measures needed to necessitate this move should be executed in such a way that the healthcare centers in question are investigated properly (Jarousse, 2013).
The use of detailed information provided from the hospital will ensure the correct measure is adopted. From the article, the authors suggest that cutting down healthcare costs will demand complete restructuring of the hospital systems in such a way that costs are minimized while services are improved at the same time.
The article proves that it is possible to minimize expenses although the structured method that can be out in place has not been discussed. An economic method that employs comprehensive approach should be employed in this case (Jarousse, 2013). The use of strategies such as analysis of the costs incurred in staffing can help in minimizing the costs of running hospitals while maintaining the required standards.
This latter will ensure that people are employed in the professions they are trained for in order to ensure high quality delivery (Jarousse, 2013). The use of rewarding system can also yield some positive results even if the costs are being cut down (Jarousse, 2013). This will ensure better quality of healthcare services and also enable the development and appreciation of the workforce.
Another potential weakness in the article is that the authors use many hypothetical arguments to back their proposals. Hence, if the article is read from a scientific point of view, it has many anomalies. The examples highlighted above illustrate that it is possible to cut down costs and at the same time deliver better services to the patients. This should be the reform agenda by both policy makers and those who implement the same policies on the ground.
References
Jarousse, L. A. (2013). Managing Workforce Costs. Web.
Pine, M. et al. (2010). Controlling Costs without Compromising Quality: Paying Hospitals for Total Knee Replacement.Med Care 48(10):862-468.