Question

Box 9-2 on page 159 identifies two theories of how to view health care. Neither of these theories are presented by the authors as an either/or choice, but will help you see the fundamental debate about health care is present even within the field of economics. Look at the Issue, Theory X, and Theory Y, and discuss the theory you support, or if you support neither theory, or if you support some combination of both theories.

Issue Theory X Theory Y Your view about how Whether a person is healthy or sick is Whether a person is healthy or sick depends an individual's health determined randomly. on lifestyle choices such as whether a is determined person smokes, drinks, or wears a seatbelt. Your view of medical Medicine is a science, and experts will Medicine is an art and there will never be practice ultimately discover the best means for one best way to treat every illness because treating every illness. illnesses are often patient-specific and because there will always be demand for lower-cost and less painful treatments. Your view of Medical care is a unique commodity. Medical care is similar to any other good or medical care service. Your view of the Government regulations are necessary to Government regulations are not necessary, government's role in protect this unique commodity, to control technological advances and more services health care profiteering at the cost of patient care, to are desirable, and competition, not control the resources spent on health care, regulation, should drive the market. and to improve information sharing. From Musgrave GL. Health economics outlook: two theories of health economics. Bus Econ. 1995;30:7-13.

Answer 1

+ I Support Some Combinations of Beth theos x and Y. My view about how an individuals health is determined My view of medical (Theory yo | Wheather a person is healthy or sick depends on life style choices such as wheather a person Smokes, drinks or wear a fealbelt etc. Medicine is an art and there will never be one best way to treat every illness because illners are often patient specific and because there will be always demand for lower cost and less painful treatments practice | My view of medical Care I Medical care is similar to any other good or service My view of the government's sole in health care . (Theory x) Government regulations are necessary to protect the unique commodity, to control profiteering at the cost of patient care, to control the resources Spent on healthy Care and to improve information Sharing