The rising complexity of the U.S. healthcare system is making it harder and harder for patients to get the treatment they need. When faced with a health problem, even the most informed patients can have trouble navigating the system. That’s where healthcare advocacy comes in.
A person who knows ins and outs of the system can be off irreplaceable assistance to those who need treatment. A patient advocate (also called a healthcare guide, patient supporter, and patient navigator) can guide a patient through the multiple nuances of the healthcare system and help them take full advantage of the available options.
Let’s take a closer look at the importance of healthcare advocacy.
What is healthcare advocacy?
Healthcare advocacy is a service that focuses on giving patients access to the healthcare system. While many people try hard to understand how the system works and navigate it properly, many nuances stay unexplained.
Whether patients have access to high-quality healthcare services or have basic health insurance, they may not know exactly how to take full advantage of it. This reduces the efficiency of healthcare and affects the overall health of the American population.
The lack of quality healthcare leads to higher mortality rates. For example, cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country. If caught early, this disease can be managed and give patients many more years of life.
If patients would have sufficient knowledge of their health plans and treatment possibilities, it could have been possible to prevent many health conditions or work out efficient treatment. Meanwhile, almost a quarter of pregnant and postpartum women report the lack of adequate healthcare due the costs.
With the right approach, these people can get the care they deserve. For that, they require a specialist (a patient advocate or a nurse advocate) who can study their particular case and apply the knowledge of the healthcare system to find a viable solution.
Healthcare advocacy specialists don’t just have at thorough knowledge of the system. They can take legal action and arrange campaigns to write, enact, and move forward different policies to simplify patients’ healthcare experience. These experts can make it easier for many segments of the population to get the healthcare assistance they need.
Why is healthcare advocacy important?
Healthcare advocacy can help deal with two important problems that plague the U.S. healthcare system: access and affordability.
Access
While all people should have access to health assistance, some populations never get the treatment they deserve. For example, minority women, children, low-income patients, the elderly, and people with disabilities often can’t gain access to much-needed help.
Meanwhile, these are the people who need this help the most because they suffer from such problems as:
· Depression and anxiety
· Emotional distress
· Substance abuse
They also lack medical literacy which often prevents these people from seeking medical help until it becomes too late. The COVID-19 pandemic worsened the situation and brought about new health issues.
Another major access issue for patients in the United States is transportation. Many people who need assistance live in rural areas where public transportation is absent. Meanwhile, internet services are limited. These patients can’t travel the distance to visit doctors in nearby cities, especially when they have disabling conditions.
Healthcare advocacy can help with access problems by designing petitions, searching for transportation options, and helping patients take advantage of telemedicine.
Healthcare Costs
One of the biggest problems keeping patients from receiving the healthcare they need is high costs. Even for patients that have quality health insurance, out-of-pocket costs can be high. In some cases, people have to choose between buying food or paying debts and healthcare services. This is a serious problem for low-income facilities.
Around 40% of American patients skip going to the doctor or getting the treatment they need due to high healthcare costs.
Healthcare advocacy helps patients navigate their insurance plans to find an opportunity to get the care they need. In some cases, people simply don’t understand what they are entitled to. This lack of knowledge causes them to avoid necessary treatment.
In addition, healthcare advocacy specialists can negotiate with healthcare providers, insurance companies, and related parties to make sure the patient gets the care they need. They can also help patients understand medical bills and prevent unnecessary payments.
The Future of Healthcare Advocacy
The world of healthcare is changing quickly. While it’s becoming more patient-centered, many people still don’t have access to the necessary treatment. Healthcare advocacy is emerging to fit the needs of the 21st-century population. In the nearest future, it’s likely to become an integral part of healthcare services.
Patients who can’t get the required treatment simply because they can’t navigate the system have become a serious problem for the entire population. The focus on prevention and early treatment is impossible without high-quality healthcare advocacy.