The Health Care System in the United States Essay

The Health Care System in the United States - Essay Example Basically, the government plays a vital role in the healthcare system. It is usually the policymaker and regulator of the health care system. It has formed entities to ensure compliance with the current laws of the United States that affect and govern the healthcare industry. These entities include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Health care is a basic human right and it is, therefore, the responsibility of the United States government to ensure that all citizens can access affordable and quality healthcare. According to Wolper (173), as a stakeholder in the health care system, the government plays various roles. It provides and ensures access to health care especially to the vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with disabilities. The government does this by building public hospitals that provide cheaper and quality medical care to all its citizens. It supports the acquisition of new knowledge, regulates health care markets and develops and evaluates new health care technologies and practices. The government is known to be a very supportive stakeholder in the adoption of new technologies in medical care particularly in the adoption of electronic health records. Government entities such as the FDA are also charged with the role of evaluating health care technologies and practices to ensure that they meet the safety laws set for the healthcare industry by the government.