******************1st ASSIGNEMNT ********************

The History of Health Insurance and Managed Care

Health insurance began in the early part of the twentieth century as a means to protect an organization’s assets, either its financial assets or its manpower. Since the early days, health insurance evolved into a system of managed care in order to control issues such as overutilization, skyrocketing costs, limited restrictions, and low-quality care.

Using the  library or the Internet, search for articles on health insurance and managed care. Based on your research, summarize your findings and answer the following questions:

• Examine the main events in the history of health insurance from the mid-twentieth century to the present. Explain how these events led up to the evolution of managed care organizations.
• Evaluate the purpose of health care insurance in the early days.
• Evaluate the evolution of health insurance and managed care. What is the relationship between the two and how has managed care risen to prominence in today’s health care market?
• Explain how the perspective of health insurance has or hasn’t changed in today’s managed care environment.
• Analyze the public policy and market forces leading to the growth of managed care.
• Analyze the current trends in managed care and its future in the context of health care reforms.

Based on your understanding, create a 4- to 5-page Microsoft Word document that includes the answers to the above questions.

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.

*******************************************2nd ASSIGNMENT ****************************************************

Read the following two scenarios and answer the questions that follow.

Case Study 1

Staria is a seventeen year-old girl who has been brought to your outpatient treatment center by her mother. Staria has been suspended from high school on two occasions over the past six weeks for fighting and disorderly conduct. She has a history of recurrent detention and classroom dismissals for similar, though less severe, behavior at her previous high school. On the last occasion, she and another student were engaged in an altercation in the hallway, when security was called in it was discovered that Staria had a pint of vodka and a small quantity of marijuana in her locker. At the time it was noticed that Starina seemed intoxicated. She later tested positive for marijuana.

You meet Staria and her mother and learn that Staria stole alcohol and marijuana from her father’s stash and that he was outraged by the discovery. Staria blames her parents for her school dismissal and feels she is being blamed and scapegoated by her parents. According to her, her parents are the ones who need counseling. She also reports that her grandfather recently passed away due to cirrhosis. Her mother states that Staria has a twin sister, who never uses drugs, cigarettes, or alcohol and that Staria should be more like her sister.

Case Study 2

George is a civil service employee who has been struggling with his drinking problem for years. He has tried to control his alcohol use and has made many attempts to refrain. Lately, he has been drinking more frequently to feel the same effect; he even drinks before he goes to work. His family has a history of alcoholism. Although George is aware of the genetic origins concept, he feels embarrassed and struggles to identify himself as an alcoholic. He compares himself with others who drink far more than he does, and in his perception, this rationalizes that he is not that bad.

George continues to drink despite the adverse consequences on his health and sociocultural relationships. In the past three years, he has experienced the following consequences:

• One arrest for driving under the influence (DUI)
• Loss of a job
• Mood swings
• Fights and arguments with family members over his drinking
• Frequent inability to stop drinking
• Blackouts
• Need for increasing amounts of alcohol in order to get high

George’s present employer asks him to attend Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. George responds, “I am not like those people. I am not that bad.”

Based on the case study given above, create a 3- to 4-page document in Microsoft Word that includes answer to the following questions:

• Is Staria in the misuse, abuse, or dependency phase of addiction? Why?
• Is George in the misuse, abuse, or dependency phase of addiction? Why?
• Which defense mechanism do you think George is displaying? Why?
• What are the three major public health issues present in Staria’s case study? Explain these issues.
• What are the three major public health issues present in George’s case study? Explain these issues.
• The Jellinek curve describes progression. What progression signs did you identify in the case of Staria? Why?
• What stage of addiction did you identify in either scenario?
• Did either case exhibit tolerance?
• Which disease model applies to either case? How?

Support your responses with examples.

Cite any sources in APA format.