Good Example Of Article Review On The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (Medpac)

An Overview of the Concept Covered in the Article

The main concept covered in the article is resource utilization. This is indicated by the fact that the author indicates the intention of MedPAC, specifically, curbing the admission of less sick patients in hospital and a review of the bonus awarded to primary care service providers. According to the author of this article, Shannon, MedPAC undertook a review on the rates that are offered to health specialists and primary health care services and determined that there is a great disparity, with primary care givers being the lowest paid. Additionally, the article covers a concept of motivation through proper remuneration of health care service providers on an equal scale.

Analysis of the Major Points Covered in the Article

One of the major points covered in the article is the great disparity that exists between specialists and primary health care service providers. This disparity occurs in the sense that the rates of payments between these two health care service providers vary to a great extent with Primary care givers, being the lowest paid or remunerated. In this regard, MedPAC provides a suggestion that would lead to an increase of 10% bonus awarded to the Primary Health Care Service providers. This is an important strategy that improves the motivation of such health care service providers as indicated by the author of this article. Additionally, the article covers strategies that suggested by MedPAC to facilitate improving primary health care service provision. One of these strategies in to reduce or curb the number of patients admitted in the hospitals, specifically those that are less sick. According to the MedPAC, this strategy will ensure that payment rates intended for long-term health care is reduced among less-ill patients. However, this strategy incorporates the idea that, the rates for acute sick patients is increase to ensure that there is adequate financial resources that can be used to properly remunerate Primary Health Care Service providers. Consequently, the article also identifies the extent of tangible and non-tangible resources that primary health care service providers invest during the process of developing their careers, thus creating a need to properly appreciate their efforts in health care service provision. This can be effectively achieved through proper remuneration approaches.

How this Article Applies to Health Care service Providers and the General Population

This article may be considered informative to primary health care service providers and the general population that accesses health care services. To begin with, it provides information regard the disparities faced in regard to payments made between health specialists and primary health care service providers, therefore, creating a need to address these challenges. On the other hand, it provides a discussion on how stakeholders specifically the congress and the MedPAC have indicated concerns in relation to the identified disparities and the suggestions provided to solve the disparities.
Consequently, the information provided in the article creates awareness among the general public concerning the challenges facing primary health care service providers and how their contributions could assist on solving the challenges. Moreover, it addresses the public on the suggestions that have been provided by MedPAC to ensure that primary health care service providers are as equally remunerated as health specialists. The major stakeholders involved in the discussion provided in the article are congress and the MedPAC, this raises the question: What actions have been taken to ensure public participation in relation to addressing the issue presented?

Reference

Firth, S. (2014, January 1). MedPAC Wants Overhaul of Primary Care Bonus. Retrieved February 4, 2015, from http://www.medpagetoday.com/PublicHealthPolicy/PracticeManagement/49234