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Reimbursement for Nursing Services: Issues and Trends

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2021

Nancy Baker
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Extract

Americans have long wanted a health care system that is accessible, comprehensive and affordable. Our failure to accomplish these goals has resulted in a resurgence of interest in national health insurance as a mechanism for increasing access, expanding the scope of services, and controlling costs.

Unfortunately, the health care industry (which is really a sick care industry) has fostered dependence on the two most expensive components of care: physician services and hospitalization. This situation has evolved from several historical themes, three of which threaten to perpetuate our inflationary system and prevent reimbursement for non-physicians:

  1. 1. failure to distinguish between medical care and health care

  2. 2. control of the industry by physicians and hospital administrators

  3. 3. lack of recognition for and undervaluing of the services of nurses

All of these factors have reduced the health options for consumers and have been demoralizing for nurses. This discussion will focus on various ways these issues impact upon the contributions nurses can make.

Type
Research Article
Information
Nursing Law & Ethics , Volume 1 , Issue 4 , April 1980 , pp. 1 - 4
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 1980

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References

1. Welch, C.A., Health Care Distribution and Third Party Payment for Nurses' Services, American Journal of Nursing 75(10): 1844 (October 1975).Google ScholarPubMed
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