An American Sickness 2021 (CHES)

CHES Competencies:

1.4  Analyze relationships among behavioral, environmental, and other factors that influence health

4.1.2 Identify and analyze factors that impact health

7.1.1 Identify current and emerging issues that may influence health and health education

7.3.1 Analyze the impact of existing and proposed policies on health

7.3.4 Assess the impact of existing systems on health

MCHES Competencies:

5.1.13 Apply ethical principles when managing financial resources

7.3.7 Identify factors that influence decision makers

Upon completion of this course, a person will be able to:

1. Describe four changes that occurred at U.S. hospitals to make them more profit-oriented.

2. List four ways hospitals and physicians have created increased income for themselves through insurance and fees.

3. Name two economic safeguards that Medicare uses to reduce overcharging and improve patient care by hospitals.

4. Identify two government acts or amendments that made drugs safer and more effective.

5. Describe three reasons why pharmaceutical costs are so much higher in the U.S. than other developed countries.

6. Discuss three reasons costs for laboratory tests are so much higher than before.

7. Identify approximately what percentage of U.S. personal debt on credit cards in 2014 was from medical bills?

8. Discuss three measures one can take or replay to patients as ways to reduce health care costs.