Preliminary Group Abstract (Healthcare)
Dutch Healthcare Reform
Shilpa Coorg, Biology, Univeristy of Washington
Belinda Luk, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, University of Washington
Erika Reinitz, School of Business, Univeristy of Washington
The Dutch government, known for its generous healthcare system in which all citizens receive universal access to health services, is limiting its policies. Once a liberal system, Dutch healthcare is now marked by a paradoxical combination of cost-containment policies and market-oriented reforms.1 In such a case, the system works to keep labor costs and expenses low while maintaining market-oriented reforms that are responsive to patients’ needs. How do hospital administrators, then, who are focused on executing cost-containment policies, maintain a balance between their economic efforts and serving the needs of their patients? Furthermore, many Dutch patients feel that they are entitled, by the constitution, to universal health care. What is the response of insurance providers to this belief? Similarly, how are hospitals and insurance companies working together to ensure that low-income patients are able to afford treatments under the new conditions? Finally, according to the healthcare providers, patients, and insurance companies, what services should be provided in the basic healthcare package? Through preliminary e-research followed by interviews with the local Dutch, we will explore the effects of such a change in healthcare on the Dutch population, specifically those in Amsterdam.
1 Blank, J. and Merkies, A. (2003) “Empirical Assessment of the economic behaviour of Dutch General Hospitals.” Journal of Health Economics. v13 i3, 265-280.
Shilpa Coorg, Biology, Univeristy of Washington
Belinda Luk, Cell, Molecular, and Developmental Biology, University of Washington
Erika Reinitz, School of Business, Univeristy of Washington
The Dutch government, known for its generous healthcare system in which all citizens receive universal access to health services, is limiting its policies. Once a liberal system, Dutch healthcare is now marked by a paradoxical combination of cost-containment policies and market-oriented reforms.1 In such a case, the system works to keep labor costs and expenses low while maintaining market-oriented reforms that are responsive to patients’ needs. How do hospital administrators, then, who are focused on executing cost-containment policies, maintain a balance between their economic efforts and serving the needs of their patients? Furthermore, many Dutch patients feel that they are entitled, by the constitution, to universal health care. What is the response of insurance providers to this belief? Similarly, how are hospitals and insurance companies working together to ensure that low-income patients are able to afford treatments under the new conditions? Finally, according to the healthcare providers, patients, and insurance companies, what services should be provided in the basic healthcare package? Through preliminary e-research followed by interviews with the local Dutch, we will explore the effects of such a change in healthcare on the Dutch population, specifically those in Amsterdam.
1 Blank, J. and Merkies, A. (2003) “Empirical Assessment of the economic behaviour of Dutch General Hospitals.” Journal of Health Economics. v13 i3, 265-280.
posted by Belinda Luk @ 10:45 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home