Examining the financial policy of a healthcare organization
Healthcare organizations must be economically viable to implement and maintain policies. Cost-benefit analysis measures viability and highlights when or where changes need to be made to ensure financial sustainability. In a minimum of 250 words, discuss the following:
Find a healthcare company in California (department or company-wide) of your choosing and examine the financial policy within that company that supports or negates sustainability (i.e., cost, benefit, and outcome). Provide a rationale for your position.
Sample Answer
Kaiser Permanente is a non-profit healthcare organization that provides health insurance and medical care to over 12 million members in California. Kaiser Permanente has a number of financial policies in place that support sustainability, including:
- A focus on preventive care: Kaiser Permanente encourages its members to get preventive care, such as annual checkups and vaccinations. This helps to keep members healthy and reduces the need for more expensive medical care later on.
- A focus on wellness: Kaiser Permanente offers a number of wellness programs to its members, such as smoking cessation programs and weight loss programs. These programs help members to improve their health and reduce their risk of chronic diseases.
- A focus on efficiency: Kaiser Permanente is constantly looking for ways to improve its efficiency. This includes things like reducing waste, using energy-efficient equipment, and negotiating lower prices for medications.