Strategiespoliciesprograms could be utilized to reduce the healthcare Essay

Strategiespoliciesprograms could be utilized to reduce the healthcare cost to the taxpayers for uninsured Texans - Essay Example These areas are prescription drug coverage, technology, managed care, reducing the number of uninsured, and innovative programs. There are several aspects of the prescription drug program that need to be reviewed. Currently Texas has a local health care system where the counties are responsible for the healthcare of its residents. Care often falls to charity or safety net hospitals (Uninsured in Texas n.d. p.4). There needs to be more focus on regional and statewide cooperation involving the purchase of prescription drugs. This would provide a centralized point of purchase, which would aid in the negotiating power of the state on drug prices from the pharmaceutical companies. In addition to lower price there needs to be some forms of cost control on the use of prescription drugs. There should be a review of the formulary for drug availability that would exclude some drugs from coverage. These would include cosmetic, hair loss, and investigational drugs. Drugs with a high potential for abuse such as amphetamines and barbiturates should also come under review. These exclusions would have to be accomplished within the current federal guidelines. Generic drug use should also be encouraged. ... This would also help reduce public resistance to low cost generic drugs. A preferred drug list of the lowest cost drugs should be utilized to pre-authorize a particular drug. Prior authorization would be necessry for any drug not on the list. Several other state programs have used this approach with some success. It may be seen as a burden to physicians and pharmacists and should be introduced in a step program beginning with non-emergency treatments such as anorexants and anti-ulcer reflux medications (Kaiser Commission 2002 p.9). Emergency supplies for short-term treatment could still be provided without prior authorization. There should also be a 'failed first policy' on prescription drugs. If a new more expensive drug is available, it should not be used until the older and less expensive substitute has been proven ineffective. Fail first programs may not be appropriate for rapidly evolving medications such as used for the treatment of mental illness (Fail-first policies 2003). This program would need to be strictly monitored and have a physician right to supersede it. 2. Technology Improved technology has the potential to save billions of dollars in health care costs. Texas needs to adopt the most recent innovations in medical technology. Shared medical records across a network would aide physicians and emergency rooms in reducing redundant tests and procedures. It also has the capacity to make the most recent knowledge and diagnosis available across the network in a virtual care coordination system. The creation of a cross care coordinated network would be a valuable tool for the uninsured as well as offering health care providers easy access to medical records. A system of community based care

Questions in a case study in theCorporate Governance & Social Essay

Questions in a case study in theCorporate Governance & Social Responsibility field - Essay Example None among the management should have the ultimate power during the decision-making process (FRC, 2003) This is because when this happens, the company will have a chairman who will be the leader to the board making sure it is effective in its roles and sets the board’s agenda. He will make sure the directors have accurate, clear and timely information. Since no governance structure exists, this principle will help to promote efficient and transparent markets, ensuring the consistency with the law and articulating clearly separation of responsibility among the management. This must be achieved by: Consistent, enforceable and transparent regulatory and legal requirements affecting governance should be provided. The framework should be developed to generally impact integrity of market, economic performance and promote participation (OECD, 2004). According to OECD (2004), the corporate governance is expected to safeguard and facilitate the expression of shareholders’ rights and so by applying this principle, the extractive industry will be aiming to put in place structures in order to achieve the following: Firstly, it gives the shareholders their basic rights which include but not limited to; obtaining a means of ownership by registration, be able to transfer shares, be able to obtain information regarding the corporate regularly and on time, obtain participation and voting regularly on AGMs, having a say in electing and voting office bearers serving on the board and finally be able to share the profits of the corporate. Secondly, it ensures that shareholders have the rights for participation and information on key decisions affecting the corporate which could include; proposals to amend the statutes, incorporation articles or any other relevant administration documents of the company, proposals to authorize additional shares and in any decisions to undertake significantly extra ordinary transactions (OECD, 2004). Thirdly, it gives shareholders