Fiscal Concerns in the Health Care Setting One of the major functions of a nurse manager is managing a budget and allocating resources necessary to manage the unit or facility effectively. “Major steps in the budgeting process include gathering information and planning, developing unit budgets, developing cash budgets, negotiating and revising, and using feedback to control budget results and improve future plans”(Yoder-Wise, 2012, p. 244). The nurse manager must be able to accommodate variances and acclimate the budget in both the projections and up-to-date expenditures. Proficiency in managing a unit level budget is essential for both a favorable variance and optimal patient outcomes. Budgeting entails reviewing revenues and expenses, staffing costs, supplies, and capital equipment costs (Contino, 2001). This case study examines personnel, overtime (OT), supplies, travel, equipment, and staff education and the manner in which management can address these factors.
Addressing Requests When considering requests such as a new piece of equipment, staff training, and supplies for the unit, a manager must consider the overall budget, constraints, and variances. If equipment has a useful life of more than one year and exceeds the minimum cost level of the facility, the manager may request the cost originates from the capital budget of the facility (Yoder-Wise, 2012). Large equipment such as a patient lift, which costs $3000 per lift, would be beneficial to the staff and
It is no secret that the cost of American healthcare is becoming increasingly more expensive. However, the issue of the rising cost of healthcare and its severity needs to be recognized as a major problem. Health prices are steadily increasing in the United States, and there is no sign of it stopping. Since 1970, spending on American health care has grown 9.8%, which is a rate that is growing faster than the economy (“New Technology”.) Furthermore, health insurance premiums are also increasing at a rate five times faster than American salaries, which makes it difficult for families to afford health care coverage (Zuckerman 28). Therefore, it has become an obligation to address why the cost of American health care is soaring and to seek out a solution to lower the cost. Many would jump to the conclusion that the United States simply charges too much for their medical services, but there are deeper influences that need to be analyzed. The causes of the rising cost of health care are people not using preventive health care, the development of modern technology, and the treatments being overprescribed. A possible solution is to have preventive health care services available in clinics of low-income areas.
The nursing shortage in the health care setting, can affect the quality of care and the overall outcome of the patient’s health. Hospital’s having lower numbers in nursing staff can have an adverse effect on the organizations. This can result in higher incidences of hospital acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, decubitus and falls with injuries. The acuity level of the patient’s entering the hospital continues to rise because there are a lot of patient’s delaying to seek prompt medical attention. As these things occurs, the skills and amount of the nursing staff need to be ready and available for the patient’s as they entered into the health care setting. Although inadequate nursing staff can have an adverse effect on the patient, this can also have a financial impact on the organization. After conducting an interview with two co-workers, an analysis will discussed concerning the financial problems identified within the organization. Second, there will be a discussion of the potential budget impact of two financial problems identified in the organization. Third, a discussion regarding the role of nursing in process of analysis with the budget development within the organization. There will be further discussion of the budget development within the organization from the chief of nursing, nurse in manager and staff nursing prospective. The purpose of this paper is conduct an analysis of the potential budget impact of the financial problems
Today, health care issues within the United States are still a major concern in regards to where people of our communities do not always agree with what is being done and what is not being done. The three major issues with health care spending is how much is it going to cost and where is the money going to come from? The amount of per-patient costs have doubled more in the United States than other nations around us. The last issue is the amount of Americans that has no health care at all. This paper will discuss the healthcare expenditures that is necessary for our entire population.
Medicaid is a vital lifeline for some 72 million Americans. Two-thirds of all Medicaid spending supports senior citizens and persons with disabilities. Cutting Medicaid would jeopardize the quality of healthcare, long-term services, and nursing home care for tens of millions of Americans. There are significant cost issues in America’s healthcare system that must be effectively addressed, but these challenges will not be remedied by benefit cuts to vulnerable
Health care spending in the United States is a key contributor to the country's economy. The health care industry provides employment as well as providing services that bring healthier lifestyles, better productivity, and a longer life. Health care also brings the development of new drugs and new medical technology that also helps keep the economy employed. However, although the health care and health care spending does tend to help the economy slightly it is beginning to hinder our economy. "In all industrialized countries, with the exception of the United States, health care affordability is ensured through universal insurance based or tax- finances systems" (Squires, 2012, p.
There have been several failed attempts over the years to control the costs of healthcare. Consequently, a major change in government policy took effect in 2010, with additional implementation in 2014, which is known as Obamacare. Furthermore, there are three main problems with the healthcare system in the United States that need reform, which include increasing costs and unaffordability of healthcare, restricted access to care, and poor quality of care (Geyman, 2012). The purpose of this paper is to investigate the costs of healthcare.
Health care is something we all must be concerned with. Costs are constantly rising and most plans demand a huge amount of money in regard to deductibles and out of pocket max. However, there are some simple ways you can begin controlling health care costs. Keep the following in mind when you are going through this process.
Based upon the health and utilization of services I choose the Castor Standard plan for Constructit and I decided not to ensure E-Editors. Castor Standard does not cover preexisting conditions, which means the risk of providing this plan is lower. In turn, the returns will be lower. The
My position on national health care spending is way too much monies is going out and not enough people supporting the problem. A universal health care plan for every man, woman, and child who resides in the United States is the most economical way to achieve this goal. All working citizens must have monies automatically taken out of their paychecks and if you can afford more than the basic plan, then there will be plans available that you can upgrade to like Aflac. No matter how poor or how rich you are, everyone has the basic plan and everyone contributes to that plan. In this paper we will discuss the current level of national health care expenditures, the level of spending, where the nation should cut, and how the
Pozgar (2012) defines healthcare fraud as an unlawful act, which purpose is for personal gain through deception. It consists of a vast number of illegal acts and irregularities resulting from intentional deceptions. It is no surprise that healthcare fraud is difficult to combat and causes extensive financial issues for the health care system of the United States. This brings us to define what fraud is and how it relates to healthcare. Fraud generally defined as knowingly and willfully executing, or attempting to execute, a scheme or artifice to defraud any health care benefit program or to obtain (by means of false or fraudulent pretenses representations, or promises) any of the money or property owned by, or under the custody
Health care is a huge added player in the hat rides the Current national expenditure levels in the United States has more than tripled in the past decade, while the amount of Americans that can afford private health insurance has dropped and the number of people relying on Medicaid and Medicare has increased with the aging baby boomer generation. Medicaid and Medicare being two of the governments most used medical insurances, the spending in health care has grown faster than the economy can bear. The Medicare physician reimbursement system provides a kind of “public good” for other insurance programs; that is, it offers a
Another way to cut costs is to address what are known as CON laws. During the final years of Richard Nixon’s presidency, and loosely based on a law already established in New York at the time, he helped bring the Certificate of Need (CON) law to fruition; to be included in the Federal Health Planning Resources Development Act of 1974. While the CON laws have
Healthcare changes occurring today along with shrinking budgets and reimbursement rates for hospitals has forced institution CEOs to do more with less. Changes and restructuring of various health facilities require nursing leaders with flexibility and adaptability. Nurse leaders must also consider budgetary constraints, cost effectiveness, patient safety, and quality care while maintaining focus on improved patient outcome. The responsibility of ensuring patients receive safe and high quality care belongs to every employee in the hospital, including support staff such as IV therapy. In this hospital, this led to the development of a nurse director position to oversee the
Government financed health care typically has more control to place limitations on care offered to patients and doctors in order to keep costs down. Since payers must try to deliver the most care for the
The following paper discusses the nurse manager’s/leader’s role in healthcare financial management and budgeting. The definition of a budget is a detailed financial plan. The nurse manager/leader is responsible in knowing and understanding the different types and budgets within the healthcare organization: operating, capital expenditure, and cash. The operating budget is the main budget the nurse manager/leader maintains an active role in for the healthcare organization by controlling personnel and supply costs. Collaboration with the nursing staff on the unit as well as other