health administration essay

83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best healthcare administration topic ideas & essay examples, ✍️ healthcare administration essay topics for college, 📌 good essay topics on healthcare administration, 💡 simple & easy healthcare administration titles.

• Emergency Action Plan: Occupational Safety and Health Administration Company Name: Company Name. Company Contact: Name: Your Name Title: Position Telephone/Cell: Email: In the event of an emergency, employees are alerted by:
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Administration The key stakeholders in addressing healthcare inefficiencies in the administrative processes include the government, hospital administrators and the direct-patient contact staff.
• Job Demands in Canadian Health Services Office Administration Currently, relevant job demands in the modern field of Canadian office administration of health services pose considerable challenges for newcomers to the industry.
• Gender and Leadership in Healthcare Administration The authors were studying the challenges that the female gender face in healthcare leadership. The authors concluded that gender inequality in management could not be affected by the type and size of the hospital.
• Administration Errors in a Mental Health Hospital The selection of a representative group from the population of interest is among the prerequisites for the production of reliable and generalizable results.
• Silica Exposure and Occupational Safety and Health Administration In this research, the main focus is to investigate whether the exposure rate on a worker at the Iron Foundry is above the set standard by the OSHA.
• Healthcare Administration: The Role of Information Technologies Sometimes people can use the OR and AND tools to calculate the probability. In addition to probability, Excel allows people to calculate measures of the central tendency.
• The Job of Health Care Administration or Executive Assistance In terms of the contributions of the course to the development of the professional experience for the position, such areas as decision-making and problem-solving were especially relevant.
• Career Development in Healthcare Administration The institution provides regular training to the members and updates the current trends that are witnessed in the healthcare sector. Second, The American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration is a website that helps in […]
• ACOs in Healthcare Administration As part of the Medicare and Medicaid program, the main goal of coordinated care is to optimize services by reducing duplication of services and improving care timeliness.
• Amazon’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration The story of one of the Amazon workers presents the company as a firm that does not value ethics in its strategic scheme. It is a matter of ethics to prioritize the employee’s well-being and […]
• Healthcare Administration: The Legal Aspects The essence of this study is to evaluate and assert the usefulness and the advantage of using case studies in teaching legal aspects in healthcare administration.
• Health Administration: Ethical and Legal Perspectives The HIPAA’s primary role was established in order to give people the authority to share their personal medical information, and again gain more accessibility of information about their health status healthcare.
• Legal Aspects of the US Health Care Administration Limiting or revoking the privileges of a medical practitioner is the extreme disciplinary step taken by the medical staff leaders of hospitals in USA.
• Aspects of Health Care Administration In most cases, the role of the administrator in a medical facility is to oversee and ensure the smooth sailing of the medical institution.
• U. S Public Health Administration The public health budget process is an important tool for governments in mobilizing resources that are needed for health, in the implementation of health-based policies and in the provision of quality health services that is […]
• US Public Health Administration While aspects of identification and curing of various kinds of diseases are surely within the agenda of public health, this is not its main task, which, in its broadest scope would embrace, preventive and protective […]
• US Public Health Public Health Administration If a catastrophic disaster occurs, public health staff are needed in terms of quantity and quality therefore, the US government has come up with initiatives to deal with the above.
• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Center Substance abuse and mental health services administration has a well-established principle of collaborating with public and private partners so as to provide the most effective services to the needy people within the society.
• Applications for Health Care Administration Finally, there is a need to build a simple but robust network infrastructure within the hospital that will not only allow the above three systems to operate collectively, but also prepare the hospital for future […]
• Finding a Job in the Healthcare Administration Field Following the recommendations, looking for new openings, and continuously working on skills and knowledge improvement can lead one to a good position in healthcare administration.
• Veterans Health Administration Integrative Care Model The purpose of the following study is to provide a thorough research on the influence of the practices conducted on mental health and to examine the overall effectiveness of the integrative care system in delivering […]
• Healthcare Organization’s Strategic Administration To cater to the needs of the population and react to the external and internal fluctuations of the environment, the company has to enhance the quality of the provided services and create a favorable environment […]
• Health and Human Services Administration Master’s Program In this section, I will discuss some of the reasons why I think I am best-placed in my career and the areas I need to sharpen my metrics.
• Health Administration Instructor’s Teaching Philosophy The US labor statistics show that health care is one of the most rapidly developing fields that accounts for the fact that it provides a huge variety of opportunities and options to build a career.
• Business Administration in the Healthcare Field Precise and states the objectives of the hospital, the market segment that it intends to serve, and how it intends to serve it.
• Health Administration Course and Lessons Learnt In this paper, I will present my reflections on the module assignments to identify the areas that I excelled in and those that I need to improve on.
• “Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration” by George Pozgar In the context of healthcare, information management can be described as the maintenance of records containing the confidential data of patients and medical workers.
• Veteran Health Administration Program The hospital seems to offer quality care to patients, and one of the studies done showed that patients with diabetes got more care than in other health care systems.
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration In population, the mental state of people that arises from the need of space in excess of the available supply is referred to as crowding.
• Legal Aspects of US Healthcare System Administration Professional conduct within a health care setting is grounded in values that reflect the nature and the dynamics of the relationships between a provider and a patient.
• Veterans Health Administration in Northern California The organization mentors and monitors its employees using the best Performance Management System. The healthcare facility has hired the right supervisors and managers to monitor the system.
• Veteran Health Administration: Electronic Systems It is from such sessions that the staff will get a chance to learn from individuals who have prior significant experiences as well as knowledge in their areas of specialization.
• Veterans Health Administration System Development Lifecycle Evidence in support of this is identified in the GAO report which highlights the fact that despite spending large sums on money and time on the VA project implementation is yet to be done on […]
• Mental Health Administration With the increased number of cases, the government opted to have a policy that would see the proper administration of the condition; this lead to the formation of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services […]
• Healthcare Administration: Foreign Trade Commission The role of FTC is to ensure effective law enforcement on consumer interests by provision and sharing of its expertise with the federal state, international agencies and the legislative body in the US.
• Effects of Globalization in Health Care Administration In this regard, it fronts considerable challenges to the healthcare sector in the realms of administration and service provision. It is crucial to understand the provisions of globalization and how they affect the healthcare administration.
• Legal Aspects of Healthcare Administration This essay looks at the case of Terri Schiavo and the ethical issues that arose from it, the definitions used to judge cases similar to it from a bioethics perspective and it will attempt to […]
• Ethics in Health Administration The first group focuses on the issues that revolve around making of ethical decisions as well as the universal issues that have a bearing on ethics.
• Ethics in Health Administration: Four Principles of Autonomy For this reason, the role of the healthcare administrator will be to ensure that all the physicians in the organizations respect the choices made by the patients regarding treatment and other important factors pertaining the […]
• Business Administration in Healthcare Field The difference in the human perception of 3D and 2D images that calls for 3D image processing is the major focus of development in the field of informatics.
• The Evolution of Healthcare Administration
• The New Healthcare Administration: How They Drive Diversity?
• General Healthcare Administration Positions
• Global Human Resource Management in the Healthcare Administration
• Career Outlook of Health Administrators
• The Educational Requirements for Healthcare Administration
• International Finance for Healthcare Administration in the United States
• Analysis of the Professional Development Plan Healthcare Administration
• Ethical Diligence in Healthcare Administration
• Work Environment of Health Administrators
• Plans and Features of Healthcare Administration in the United State
• Useful Professional Associations in Healthcare Administration
• The Role of Stakeholders and Community Assessment in Health Nursing Collaboration between community health nurses and community stakeholders as well as community resource assessment can help nurses promote population health.
• Healthcare Management vs. Administration: Key Differences
• The Organizational Behavior of Healthcare Administration
• Changing From Legal Practice to Healthcare Administration
• Healthcare Administration for Patient Safety and Engagement
• System Planning and Control: Health Administration
• Dismissal of Healthcare Administration Employees
• How to Manage the Healthcare Administration in Real Life?
• Pros and Cons of the New Master’s Program in Healthcare Administration
• Queueing System Analysis of Healthcare Administration
• Marketing Strategies and Recommendations for Healthcare Administration
• Factors Affecting the Activities of Healthcare Administration
• Skills That Can Help Improve Work in Healthcare Administration
• The Current Corporate and Global Strategies of Healthcare Administration
• Past and Present in Healthcare Administration
• Law, Ethics, and Policy in Healthcare Administration
• Organizational Behavior and Culture Change at Healthcare Administration
• Sources of Income in the Healthcare Administration: How They Can Affect the Work of Employees
• Healthcare Administrators: Roles and Responsibilities
• Debunking Misconceptions About Healthcare Administration Roles
• The Future of Healthcare Administration
• The Realities of Healthcare Management: What Can Go Unnoticed?
• Healthcare Administration: A Combination of Theory and Practice
• What Is the Role of Information Technology in the Healthcare Administration?
• Stress and the Hospital Administrator: Sources and Solutions
• Technological Advancements in Healthcare Administration
• View of Hospital Administration as a Profession
• Success Factors and Leadership Strategies Healthcare Administration
• The Fundamentals of Healthcare Administration: Navigating Challenges and Coordinating Care
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"83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." IvyPanda , 27 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples'. 27 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 27, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/.

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IvyPanda . "83 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples." February 27, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/.

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114 Healthcare Administration Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Healthcare administration is a crucial aspect of the healthcare industry, as it involves managing the operations and resources of healthcare facilities to ensure optimal patient care and organizational effectiveness. If you are studying healthcare administration and need some inspiration for essay topics, look no further! Here are 114 healthcare administration essay topic ideas and examples to get you started:

• The role of healthcare administrators in improving patient outcomes
• The impact of technology on healthcare administration
• Strategies for managing healthcare costs
• The importance of data analytics in healthcare administration
• Ethical considerations in healthcare administration
• The challenges of managing a healthcare facility during a pandemic
• The role of leadership in healthcare administration
• The impact of healthcare policies on healthcare administration
• The future of healthcare administration
• Improving patient satisfaction in healthcare facilities
• Managing healthcare staff effectively
• The role of communication in healthcare administration
• The importance of quality improvement in healthcare administration
• Strategies for managing healthcare supply chains
• The impact of cultural competence on healthcare administration
• The challenges of healthcare administration in rural areas
• The role of healthcare administrators in disaster preparedness
• The impact of population health management on healthcare administration
• Strategies for promoting patient safety in healthcare facilities
• The role of healthcare administrators in addressing healthcare disparities
• The impact of healthcare reform on healthcare administration
• The challenges of managing healthcare information systems
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting innovation in healthcare
• Strategies for managing healthcare facilities in a global context
• The impact of healthcare regulations on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting evidence-based practice
• The challenges of managing healthcare finances
• The importance of strategic planning in healthcare administration
• The impact of healthcare mergers and acquisitions on healthcare administration
• Strategies for managing healthcare workforce diversity
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting patient-centered care
• The challenges of managing healthcare quality metrics
• The impact of healthcare accreditation on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting interprofessional collaboration
• Strategies for managing healthcare risk
• The importance of ethical leadership in healthcare administration
• The impact of healthcare marketing on healthcare administration
• The challenges of managing healthcare compliance
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting health equity
• Strategies for managing healthcare innovation
• The impact of healthcare technology on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare sustainability
• The challenges of managing healthcare performance metrics
• The importance of continuous quality improvement in healthcare administration
• The impact of healthcare regulation on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting patient safety
• Strategies for managing healthcare workforce shortages
• The challenges of managing healthcare information technology
• The impact of healthcare reimbursement models on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare transparency
• Strategies for managing healthcare supply chain disruptions
• The importance of data-driven decision making in healthcare administration
• The impact of healthcare policy on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare ethics
• The challenges of managing healthcare staffing ratios
• The importance of healthcare leadership development in healthcare administration
• Strategies for managing healthcare facility design and construction
• The impact of healthcare quality improvement initiatives on healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare innovation
• The challenges of managing healthcare patient satisfaction scores
• The importance of healthcare workforce diversity in healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare teamwork
• Strategies for managing healthcare risk management
• The challenges of managing healthcare financial performance
• The importance of healthcare strategic planning in healthcare administration
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare quality improvement
• Strategies for managing healthcare workforce engagement
• The challenges of managing healthcare regulatory compliance
• The role of healthcare administrators in promoting healthcare access
• The role of

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64 Healthcare Administration Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on healthcare administration, ✍️ healthcare administration essay topics for college, 👍 good healthcare administration research topics & essay examples, 🎓 most interesting healthcare administration research titles.

• IT in Healthcare: Barcode Medication Administration System
• Leadership in Healthcare Management & Administration
• Career in Healthcare Administration
• Improving Healthcare Quality With Bar-Coded Medication Administration
• Agency for Health Care Administration Analysis
• Responsible Citizenship in Healthcare Administration
• Importance of Healthcare Administration
• Legal Aspects of Health Care Administration: HIPAA Act This Act establishes how diverse medical experts share any form of information concerning their clients (patients).
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Benzene Exposure Rule The Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposal for benzene was aimed at limiting the amount of exposure from 10ppm to 1ppm.
• Healthcare Administration: Nursing Activity Within the review of the Seavers v. Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge case, the essay concerns the negligent behavior of nurses.
• The Occupational Safety and Health Administration: Engineering Ethics The issue touches on the ethics and legality of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to change the levels allowed for benzene exposure in the workplace.
• Effective Healthcare Management and Administration An effective healthcare manager should be able to motivate healthcare workers to be at the top of their performance.
• The Disparity of Minorities and Women CEOs in Healthcare Administration This research paper will discuss the disparities that currently exist in the management of the health care systems.
• Health Services Administration: Legal and Ethical Issues The Health Services Administration Department outlines several values that guide and empower healthcare administrators.
• Importance of Laws and Ethics in Healthcare Administration
• The Role of Gender and Leadership in Healthcare Administration
• Key Skills Needed for an Effective Healthcare Administrator
• Overviewing of the Future of Healthcare Administration Development
• Factors Affecting Healthcare Administration Career Development by Gender Differences
• The Effects of Telemedicine on Healthcare Administration
• Current Issues in Healthcare Administration and Management
• Healthcare Administration and Public Health/Occupational Therapy
• What’s the Difference Between Healthcare Administration and Healthcare Management?
• Occupational Safety and Healthcare Administration in the United States
• The Reasons Why Transitioning From a Clinician Role to a Healthcare Administration Role Could Be Right for You
• Health Services Administration vs. Healthcare Administration: What’s the Difference?
• Legal Responsibility of the Healthcare Administration in the Hospital
• The Peculiarities of Healthcare Administration in the UK
• Malpractice and Its Effects on the Healthcare Administration
• Finance in Healthcare: Tips for Healthcare Administrators
• Why Healthcare Administration Is the Backbone of the Healthcare Industry
• Healthcare Administration vs. Leadership and Management
• The Development and Evolution of Healthcare Administration in the US
• Challenges Healthcare Administration Will Face in the Future
• The Role of Technology in Healthcare Administration
• Understanding and Detecting Defects in Healthcare Administration Data
• Healthcare Administration Challenges and Opportunities During COVID-19 Pandemic
• How to Prepare for a Career in Healthcare Administration
• Human Resources Management and Organizational Behavior and Leadership for Healthcare Administrators
• The Role of Successful Leadership in Healthcare Administration
• Healthcare Administration Challenges in the United States
• What Type of Leadership Skills Should a Healthcare Administrator Have?
• How to Become a Healthcare Administrator and Job Duties
• Analyzing Healthcare Administration Roles and Functions
• Healthcare Administration: Strategy for Innovation
• Differences and Similarities Between a Healthcare Administrator and Manager
• The Importance of Understanding Legal Issues in Healthcare Administration
• The Use of Information Technology in Healthcare Administration
• What Role Does Healthcare Administration Have in the Patient Experience
• The Role of Leadership Philosophy in Healthcare Administration
• What Can You Do With a Healthcare Administration Degree?
• Organizational Planning and Change of Healthcare Administration
• The Role of HR in Healthcare Administration and Employee Satisfaction
• Healthcare Administration: Career Paths and Requirements
• The Main Functions of Management in Healthcare Administration
• How the Telemedicine Changed the Healthcare Administration Process
• Assessing the Quality of Healthcare Administration in the US
• The Future of Healthcare Administration and the Evolving Role of Hospitals
• Meeting the Demand for Healthcare Administration Workers in the US
• How Insurance Changes Have Affected Healthcare Administration
• Emerging Trends in Health Care Administration Today
• How Healthcare Administrators Prepare for Infectious Disease Outbreaks
• Organizational Behavior and Development in Healthcare Administration
• Top Healthcare Administrators Changing the World

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StudyCorgi. (2023, May 7). 64 Healthcare Administration Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/

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StudyCorgi . "64 Healthcare Administration Essay Topics." May 7, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2023. "64 Healthcare Administration Essay Topics." May 7, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/healthcare-administration-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Healthcare Administration were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on December 27, 2023 .

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Master of Health Administration (MHA)

• Admission Requirements
• Career Outlook

How to Write an MHA Personal Statement

If you’re applying to a Master’s in Health Administration program, you must be passionate about helping medical facilities run smoothly and supporting life-saving care. You’ve also done a lot to prepare for this point in your career, having earned an undergraduate degree and likely held at least one position in this rapidly growing field. Now, you’re ready to advance your career with the right master’s degree. One thing stands in your way: crafting the perfect personal statement to include with your application.

Also called a statement of purpose, the MHA personal statement is your chance to make your application more than just a collection of data and facts. An effective statement of purpose will give the admissions office an idea of who you are, complete with a glimpse into your personal and professional goals and accomplishments. It should communicate why you’re a good fit for the university’s MHA program.

If you feel intimidated by writing your personal statement, you’re not alone. Many people find writing about themselves to be a difficult task. However, to gain admission to a top MHA program , you’ll need a compelling statement of purpose – and this guide will teach you how to achieve just that.

Step 1: Brainstorm

Your first step in crafting an effective MHA personal statement or statement of purpose is to brainstorm. Many people find brainstorming methods like freewriting, clustering, or listing useful. However, there’s only one hard-and-fast rule for this step in the process: Write down your thoughts. Brainstorming is most effective when you make notes or a visual representation of how you might answer the personal statement prompt. The questions below are a few examples that may be helpful to ask yourself during this step:

• Why did I decide to pursue a career in health administration?
• What do I want to accomplish in my career?
• What are my goals in earning my MHA?
• Why am I applying to this MHA program?
• Why do I want to attend this university?
• How do my accomplishments make me a good fit for this MHA program?

Step 2: Outline

Writing out an outline for your essay will save time later. Return to what you wrote during the brainstorming phase. Which parts of your notes are the most compelling? Which ones make you feel genuinely passionate about the MHA program you’re applying to? These are the pieces of information you should be sure to include in your statement of purpose.

If the application provides a prompt, use it when building your outline. For example, the MHA personal statement prompt at Methodist University is: “Complete a typed personal statement including your background, interest in attending Methodist University, interest in the program, and your career goals.”

Here is an example outline for an essay responding to this prompt:

• Explain why you chose to pursue a career in health administration.
• Describe your educational background.
• Identify details about MU that made you interested in attending this school.
• Point to specifics about this program that make it the right fit for you.
• Explain what you want to accomplish in the next few years.
• Describe how this MHA program will help you achieve your goals.
• Summarize your main points.

Step 3: Draft

After taking the time to brainstorm and outline your statement of purpose, the process of writing your first draft should go smoothly. Return to your outline, and use your brainstorming notes to fill out each section. Think of this as the part of the process where you tell a story. Add relevant details to make your personal statement more compelling to the reader, and include examples from your lived experiences to demonstrate the message you’re trying to communicate.

Step 4: Revise

Revision is just as important as the drafting stage. Read through your statement of purpose and revise it to make the essay more clear and compelling to the reader. Here are a few examples of questions to ask yourself during the revision process:

• Is anything I wrote unclear?
• Can I be more specific about any of these details?
• Does my personal statement directly respond to the prompt?
• If I worked for the admissions office, what questions would I have?

Step 5: Proofread

Finally, proofread your personal statement for grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes. It’s essential for your final statement to be professional and free of errors, as mistakes could cloud your overall message. Once you’re happy with your statement of purpose, you’re ready to apply for your MHA program.

MHA Personal Statement Example

MHA personal statement examples are useful tools in planning your essay. Read the example below, and use it as a guide or inspiration for your statement.

“I’ve aspired to work in the health care field since I was a teenager. For much of my adolescence, my mother, who lives with rheumatoid arthritis, was also a caregiver to my maternal grandmother, who was battling Alzheimer’s. Due to the medical needs of the entire family, we all spent a great deal of time in medical facilities. I soon learned just how lucky my family was to have access to top-notch care and treatment. The more I learned about the medical system, though, the more I realized that not all families are so fortunate. Since then, my desire has been to help improve the level of care offered to all families and individuals.

I have always valued the hard work of nurses and doctors who take hands-on responsibility for care. However, the more I interacted with the health care industry, the more I developed a growing appreciation for those who often work behind the scenes – the health service managers, clinic supervisors, and consultants who keep day-to-day health care operations running smoothly. When I entered college, I felt that my place in the field was among their ranks, working to expand access to quality care throughout my community. That’s why I completed the Bachelor of Science in Community Health, and it’s why I’m now applying for admission to Methodist University’s Master in Health Administration program.

Through my research of MHA programs, Methodist University quickly became an obvious choice. As a health administration professional currently working in the field, entering an online program that will allow me to study at my own pace without sacrificing the quality of my education is a top priority. That’s why the excellent reputation of Methodist’s online program and outstanding faculty stood out to me. I’m excited to apply to a program with a low student-to-faculty ratio and built-in support services to support me along the way.

Specifically, the MHA program at MU is unmatched. Its focus on preparing students with the strategies, tools, and techniques to lead teams, make important decisions, understand organizational effectiveness, and change processes to improve performance tells me that this program will truly prepare me to advance as a leader in my field. After reviewing the course list, I’m most interested in expanding my learning with two courses: HCA 5680: Global Health and HCA 5600: Health Care Policy Issues. Both will prepare me to support efforts to increase access to quality health care in all communities.

After several years working as an administrator in medical facilities, I’ve learned a great deal about how my work can support health services for patients. Completing MU’s MHA program will help me pursue my future career goals, including management positions. My hope is to graduate from MU with a solid understanding of health care administration and the skills I need to advance. Additionally, I look forward to completing the required capstone experience to solidify and showcase my skills for future employers.

Health care in our society relies on talented health administration professionals who can ensure access to care for each and every patient. I want to dedicate myself to becoming one of those professionals, and I believe my next step is to complete Methodist University’s Master in Health Administration program.”

Final Tips for Writing an MHA Personal Statement

You may find these tips helpful in writing your MHA personal statement:

• Ask a friend or family member to review your statement and provide feedback.
• Read your personal statement out loud to look for errors.
• Ask a colleague or close friend to list your top strengths and qualities from their perspective. Then, make sure your essay demonstrates these qualities.
• Avoid repetition. If you find yourself using the same words or phrases repeatedly, search for synonyms and other ways to express your thoughts.

Taking the time to learn how to craft your MHA personal statement or statement of purpose shows that you’re serious about preparing for advancement in health administration. Graduating from a top online program can make all the difference when it’s time to apply for leadership positions. Learn more about Methodist University’s online MHA program , which offers working professionals the opportunity to study at their pace with flexible online coursework taught by field experts. Request more information about this program or apply today .”Interested in other health care degrees? Explore all the online health care programs we offer at Methodist University.

• Ellis, M. (2022, June 2). How to Write a Powerful Personal Statement . Grammarly. Retrieved on October 21, 2022, from “ https://www.grammarly.com/blog/personal-statement/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw48OaBhDWARIsAMd966BK6sa3AFL2z6fBzcz2bOBtut8HUbTQD5_NRj1UJq6bAReWC057wBwaAtdlEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds .”
• McCombes, S. (2019, Feb. 12). How to Write Your Personal Statement | Strategies & Examples . Scribbr. Retrieved on October 21, 2022, from “ https://www.scribbr.com/graduate-school/personal-statement/ .”

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Preparing Your Online MHA Application: Essay Tips & Tricks

As you think about applying or starting your application to NYU Wagner’s Online Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree program , you will notice the application requires two essays. 

The essays are an opportunity to showcase your commitment to advancing healthcare in the United States and how you will bring your experiences to bear to make an impact on the communities and organizations you aspire to serve. Your responses also give the reader insight into your academic and professional experience, future goals, and why pursuing healthcare management is an important step forward in your career. 

Read the essay questions and review our recommendations for this critical component of your Online MHA application.  

Online MHA Essay Questions

Essay 1: .

Tell us about your short-term and long-term professional goals. How are your professional strengths, past experiences, and personal attributes aligned with these goals? Why is now the right time for you to pursue graduate school at NYU Wagner?

For MHA program applicants not currently working in a US healthcare-related position, be sure to articulate your interest in pursuing a career in healthcare management in the US.

Essay 2: 

At NYU Wagner, we believe that the practice of healthcare management is complicated and messy, and issues are often interconnected. Write an essay that begins to explore the complexities of a healthcare issue of your choice. How do you think the MHA program at NYU Wagner will aid you in addressing this issue?

How to Write an Online MHA Application Essay that’s Ready to Submit

Answer the essay questions.

A good MHA application essay is well-organized and directly addresses the question. Focus your responses on your academic and professional goals and how NYU Wagner’s Online MHA program will help you achieve them. Tell us about your commitment to making an impact on the US healthcare system.  

Use specific examples

Set yourself apart from other applicants: tell your unique story and use specific examples. Was there a clear moment you knew you wanted to pursue a career in healthcare adminstration? Did volunteering, work, or a particular project spark your interest? You don’t need to write about a life-changing experience. Sometimes the smallest moments lead us to the biggest breakthroughs. 

Be honest 

Your application essay is also an opportunity to expand on the academic and professional history in your resume or CV. For example, if you worked full-time to help fund your undergraduate education, that shows us important context to your experience and achievements. We want to see your experience as a whole, and the more detailed and honest you are, the more the MHA admissions committee and faculty will see you as an individual ready for the next step in your healthcare career.

Make the most of the Additional Information section

The Additional Information section of the application is an optional opportunity to expand on particular circumstances related to your application of which we should be aware. For example, you might want to provide more information about unexplained gaps in your employment history, weak academic performance, the relevance of your choice of recommenders, or other significant factors that may impact your application. The additional information section is a great tool for us to get to know you and your specific circumstances better. 

Set aside time to prepare

Before you start your essay, formulate your plan and brainstorm what you want to say. We recommend setting aside 30 minutes each day to work on your essay. Before you know it you will have a complete, 400-500 word essay. 

Proofread, revise, and proofread again

Make sure your essay is well-organized and comprehensive. Double-check your grammar and spelling. A poorly written essay suggests a lack of care and subpar communication skills. Ask your colleagues, professors, managers, or friends for their feedback and edits. Having a second set of eyes will improve your essay. 

Remember, these essays are your only opportunity to express who you are, and why NYU Wagner’s Online MHA program is the right choice for you. If you have any other questions regarding admissions, please reach out to us! Our Enrollment Advisors are here to provide one-on-one application assistance about the program, online student experience, financial aid , and more.

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What is Healthcare Administration?

Understanding the Numbers When reviewing job growth and salary information, it’s important to remember that actual numbers can vary due to many different factors — like years of experience in the role, industry of employment, geographic location, worker skill and economic conditions. Cited projections do not guarantee actual salary or job growth.

Healthcare administration describes leadership roles held by managers in hospitals, nursing homes, insurance companies and medical offices. In these settings, healthcare managers hold a broad range of responsibilities, including operations, finance, management, policies, strategy and more.

As the U.S. population ages and the need for healthcare continues to grow, the demand for healthcare administrators is also increasing. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects the addition of more healthcare jobs than any other occupational group from 2021 to 2031 — predicting about 2 million new job openings across the country.* Because of the increasing demands on hospitals, nursing homes and other healthcare facilities, employment for medical and health services managers, or healthcare administrators, could see 28% growth through 2031, BLS reports.*

In addition to new job openings, BLS estimates that additional opportunities will open up due to retirements or people leaving the field. Healthcare administration roles can pay robust salaries, too. The median annual salary for medical and health services managers was $101,340 in 2021, according to BLS.*

What Does a Healthcare Administrator Do?

Healthcare administrators monitor the effectiveness of their organizations and make recommendations for operational improvements. The duties of healthcare administrators vary, depending upon your role, skill set and the type of organization you serve. For example, managers may oversee clinical and non-clinical staff functions within their department or an entire organization, or they could work with patients directly.

Healthcare administrators can expect to complete one or more of the following tasks in their roles, according to BLS :

• Analyze and manage organizational or department finances
• Assure regulatory compliance
• Facilitate meetings with senior leadership, investors and other legislative groups
• Manage facilities operations
• Recruit, hire and train new staff
• Write grant proposals to obtain research funding

No matter what healthcare administration role you ultimately choose, it’s important to have the right skills, education and training.

What Are the Skills Needed for a Healthcare Administrator?

Successful healthcare administrators should possess a combination of both hard and soft skills . For example, in your leadership role, you should be able to manage multiple projects at once and have the communication, analytical and technological skills you need to lead teams, departments or organizations.

“The courses in our online Bachelor of Science (BS) in Healthcare Administration program teach students to learn how to manage staff and processes within various units, floors, departments or an entire facility within a healthcare setting,” said O’Hara. “Coursework also provides insight into data and trends related to health care economics, health care reimbursement, health care quality, regulatory compliance, health care information systems and health disparities.”

Is a Healthcare Administration Degree Worth It?

Even if you already have years of nursing experience or have worked in a healthcare setting, a healthcare administration degree can help you learn how to apply evidence-based knowledge toward organizational decision-making, O’Hara said.

“If you already have a nursing degree , a healthcare administration degree can help you transition into a management role ,” she said. “Having that clinical background knowledge can give you a better understanding of the patient experience and insights into the ways you might improve functionality and operations in a healthcare facility.”

You can choose to pursue healthcare administration degrees at the bachelor’s and master’s degree levels. It's important to look for programs aligned to the Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) that address the four competencies that have been deemed critical to a healthcare administrator’s success, O’Hara said. These include communication, computational skills, critical thinking and societal and cultural context.

Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration

Undergraduate healthcare administration programs include courses that focus on data-based decision-making, operational strategies and stakeholder communications. These could consist of courses in healthcare economics, finance and healthcare delivery services, to name a few. Some programs also allow you to specialize in an area of healthcare administration.

At SNHU, for example, the bachelor’s in healthcare administration program allows you to pursue one of two tracks: health information management or patient safety and quality. In the health information management concentration, you learn more about computerized diagnostic and treatment equipment and technologies impacting billing and reimbursement. You also learn about health insurance policies and record management systems and reimbursement. This concentration prepares graduates for roles such as front-line supervisor, business intelligence analyst or administration services managers, O’Hara said.

The patient safety and quality concentration looks deeper into management practices that focus on the patient experience, and students can learn how to mitigate risk through identification and analysis, data management, cultural change and patient advocacy. It can prepare graduates for roles such as compliance director, patient safety representative, patient safety manager and quality and patient safety specialist, O’Hara said.

Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration

A master’s degree in healthcare administration  (MHA) builds upon concepts taught in your undergraduate program and digs deeper into topics that help you effectively lead in higher-level management positions. It’s a good degree option for those with previous healthcare experience who are on the leadership trajectory or managers looking to enter the healthcare field, O’Hara said.

The MHA provides students with a breadth of knowledge in critical assets of healthcare, including reimbursement, quality improvement, strategic planning and marketing for nonprofits. For example, for positions such as hospital CEO or CFO, some organizations often look for candidates who’ve earned master’s degrees. Depending on your career goals, you may opt to earn an MBA in Healthcare Management  or an online master's in management  with a concentration in healthcare.

Whether you earn a bachelor’s or master’s degree, you can greatly benefit from degree programs that also provide real-world learning opportunities. At SNHU, for example, both graduate and undergraduate students participate in weeks-long experiential learning  challenges that help them connect theory to practice. These Higher Education and Real-world Training (HEaRT) Challenges  ask students to address critical problems facing healthcare facilities across the country and give them the opportunity to present their ideas and recommendations directly to industry experts, O’Hara said.

It can take up to four years to complete a bachelor’s degree  in healthcare administration and about two years to complete your master’s degree , depending on your prior educational and professional experience. If you’re looking to work on your degree part-time, it might take longer.

If you have transfer credits, you may be able to finish your degree faster. Choosing an online healthcare administration program that offers shorter, more frequent academic terms  can also help you compress the amount of time it takes to complete your degree and provide you with greater flexibility.

What Can You Do With a Healthcare Administration Degree?

Your degree in healthcare administration can prepare you for a wide range of management roles that support patients, healthcare providers and staff. You can opt to work with patients directly, focus on financials or improve operational processes. Some positions may require additional educational requirements or accreditation.

“When it comes to education in the healthcare setting, there are a lot of regulatory requirements,” Bradley said. “My master’s degree in healthcare administration provided me with regulatory compliance knowledge and with leadership knowledge that’s helped me lead large-scale projects and people. It’s a very well-rounded degree.”

Bradley began taking undergraduate classes online at SNHU in 2015 when she was a single mother to a toddler. She juggled full-time work with family responsibilities while completing her coursework in the evenings and on weekends.

“My professors and advisors wanted me to be successful and achieve my goals, she said. “I never felt that level of support at any other college I had attended.”

What is the Career Path for Healthcare Administration?

Your healthcare administration degree opens the door to a wide range of career paths. With more experience and education, you may move from specialist roles to managerial roles.

Here are some common jobs a healthcare administration degree might prepare you for. Some may require additional certifications and licensure.

• Clinical managers oversee a specific department or practice and are responsible for management and operations related to that specialty. They establish policies, goals, and procedures for their departments, evaluate employees and create reports and budgets, according to BLS . This job typically requires you to have a bachelor's degree, BLS said.
• Healthcare consultants work with senior leadership to conduct research, identify challenges and help design solutions. They may help organizations with insurance compliance, healthcare quality and staff retention.
• Health information managers maintain the privacy and security of patient information and healthcare data related to their organization. They follow healthcare information and privacy laws and safeguard facility databases. They also may supervise medical records and health information technicians, according to BLS.
• Hospital administrators oversee the overall operations of a hospital, clinic, treatment center or other healthcare organization. They hold one of the top leadership positions in their organization and may have the title of chief executive officer or chief operations officer. Hospital administrators work closely with medical and support staff to ensure safety, compliance, and efficiency.  They may also evaluate providers, enact policies, ensure quality assurance and participate in fundraising and community health planning, according to The Princeton Review .
• Human resources managers recruit and train new employees and may also oversee staff pay and benefits. These managers often address conflicts between staff and help identify management solutions. A bachelor's degree in healthcare administration can prepare you for this role, BLS reports. In 2021, human resources managers in the healthcare and social assistance sectors earned a median annual salary of $99,870 , according to BLS.*
• Medical billing managers manage contracts with insurance providers, insurance claims, and patient billing for healthcare organizations. They oversee staff in their departments and track payments.
• Medical office managers oversee a healthcare organization's day-to-day administrative tasks, including expenses and accounts, staff scheduling and file management.
• Nursing home administrators manage resident admission in a nursing home, overseeing finances, organizational effectiveness and regulatory compliance. Nursing home administrators usually hold master's degrees, according to BLS . All states require nursing home administrators to be licensed; licensing requirements vary by state, BLS said.
• Practice administrators oversee general operations at a medical practice, such as a primary care practice. They are responsible for managing a variety of administrative activities, including recruiting, contract negotiations and budgeting.

Healthcare administration continues to evolve and can be a lucrative and rewarding career path. Earning a degree in the field can bring you closer to your goal of breaking into a management role.

“The degree will give you so much knowledge and open so many doors,” Bradley said.

Discover more about SNHU’s healthcare administration degree : Find out what courses you'll take, skills you’ll learn and how to request information about the program.

*Cited job growth projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth. Actual salaries and/or earning potential may be the result of a combination of factors including, but not limited to: years of experience, industry of employment, geographic location, and worker skill.

Krysten Godfrey Maddocks '11 is a writer and marketing/communication professional. Connect with her on LinkedIn .

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Health Administration (BS)

Undergraduate Major

Are you ready to play a pivotal role in the future of healthcare? The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration prepares students for a career in public health by combining courses from The Alvarez College of Business and The College of Health, Community and Policy to integrate UTSA’s strengths in population health, “big data” analytics and cyber security.

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Why Pursue a Health Administration Bachelor's Degree

The BS in Health Administration is designed to make students effective, ethical leaders ready for diverse healthcare roles in a variety of settings including public health, safety net programs, community-based care, primary care and hospital/tertiary care. Our customized curriculum delves into the specific needs of San Antonio and South-Central Texas by tackling regional challenges such as border community health.

Students who graduate with a Health Administration bachelor’s degree are prepared for diverse careers as healthcare business analysts, healthcare consultants, revenue cycle specialists, health information technology specialists, public health project/program managers, population health analysts, hospital/health system administrators, long-term care administrators and physician practice managers.

Preparing for Career Success

Through hands-on learning, the BS in Health Administration equips students with skills such as healthcare process management, healthcare finance, accounting, data analytics, health information systems, operations management and population health analysis.

This degree prepares students for the competitive job market with top employers in San Antonio, the state of Texas and beyond. Companies currently hiring health administration candidates include:

• UT Health San Antonio
• University Health (San Antonio)
• Christus Health (San Antonio)
• Metro Health (San Antonio)
• Memorial Hermann (Houston)
• Houston Methodist
• Walmart Health
• HCA Healthcare
• UnitedHealth Group

Hands-On Learning Opportunities

Professional development course.

The bachelor’s degree in Health Administration includes a professional development course to prepare students for the professional standards and expectations of the field, so they can excel from the beginning of their careers.

Internship Experiences

As part of the bachelor’s in Health Administration program, students will start building a professional network and gaining valuable experience by interning at a local healthcare provider or public health agency. 

Capstone Course Sequence

Before graduating with a BS in Health Administration, students will complete a capstone course sequence which offers unique exposure to project-based learning opportunities in population health, strategy, and value-based care.

Extracurricular Activities

The Bachelor of Science in Health Administration helps students maximize their time at UTSA with extracurricular opportunities for professional development, industry exposure, networking and other valuable career-focused learning experiences. 

Admission Requirements

Scholarships, careers, salary & skills.

When you apply to UTSA, you select the major you'd like to study. The choice of major will not impact if you get admitted to the University ( all students must meet UTSA's general admission requirements ); however, some majors will require additional admission requirements to be able to declare the major your freshman year.

Pro Tip: Even if you don't think you will qualify for financial aid, you should still submit the FAFSA! Information from the FAFSA could impact certain scholarships that are even merit-based.

UTSA Scholarship Hub

Through one general scholarship application, you can automatically be considered for dozens of scholarships at UTSA, including scholarships that are available for this major. In order to access all available scholarship applications on the UTSA Scholarship Hub, you must be an admitted student. If you are a student applying for admission, but have not yet been admitted, you may sign in and complete the Scholarship Hub’s General Application as long as you have authenticated your myUTSA ID and Passphrase. Once you are admitted to UTSA, please sign back in to the Scholarship Hub to see if there are any additional scholarship opportunities available for you to pursue.

UTSA Scholarship Hub Public Administration and Policy Scholarship Opportunities

Distinguished Scholarship

UTSA offers an automatic merit-based scholarship to incoming new freshman and transfer students who display exceptional scholastic achievement in high school by the priority deadline. Non-resident and international students awarded a Distinguished Scholarship for a minimum of $1,000 for the academic year will be granted a waiver for non-resident tuition if scholarship eligibility is maintained. This means out-of-state and international students could pay in-state tuition! For fall admitted freshmen, this scholarship is valued up to $20,000 for up to four years. For fall or spring admitted transfer students, this scholarship is valued up to $6,000 for up to two years. Renewal eligibility must be maintained and funding must be available.

UTSA Bold Promise

Although not a scholarship, UTSA is committed to cover tuition and mandatory fees 100% for eligible students who come from low and middle-income Texas families.

UTSA prepares you for future careers that are in demand. See possible careers below. This data is pulled by a third-party tool called Emsi, which pulls data from sources like the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census Bureau, online job postings, other government databases and more to give you regional and national career outlook related to this academic program. On top of the resources your college will provide, the University Career Center offers several resources to help students identify and develop the global skills necessary to successfully pursue and achieve lifelong career goals.

Minors & Certificates

After selecting a major area of study and enrolling at UTSA, degree-seeking students can choose from a variety of minors and certificates to supplement their education. Although not required, minors and certificates can help students customize their UTSA experience based on their passions and unique career goals.

The Honors Experience

Realize your full potential at The University of Texas at San Antonio’s Honors College. Rooted in experiential learning, our classes and programs are hands-on, project-based, and customizable to fit your individual goals. Students in any majors can get invited to our Honors College. Turn your passions into marketable skills for the future!

The College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) is a diverse college that provides real world experiences and engages directly in our community. The college contains nine academic disciplines, and these important areas of study directly affect one another. For example, you can’t examine public policy without considering public health, criminology and criminal justice, psychology, nutrition, sociology and more. When you join HCAP, you will choose a degree program that complements your interests, conduct research and study with faculty who are experts in their field and engage with peers that will become lifetime friends.

Research is very important in the field of Health, Community and Policy. As early as your freshman year at UTSA, you will be involved in conducting research studies that will let you act upon your curiosity, learn experientially and make a difference in people’s lives. Some of the areas of research include vaccine access, preventing substance abuse, violence prevention, understanding demographic trends and health impacts, diabetes prevention and improving resources for underserved populations.

Ensuring our HCAP students are ready for the world of work is a top priority. HCAP has a dedicated internship director who coordinates with employers to provide internship opportunities and advice for students. There have been over 140,000 internships hours completed by HCAP students. Courses offer career-engaged learning experiences such as opportunities in undergraduate research, internships and field experiences. The HCAP Student Success Center provides additional outside classroom support in professional development and leadership.

Student Success

UTSA is all about your success. Our experiential learning initiative takes what you learn in the classroom and helps you apply it to real life. As a student in the College for Health, Community and Policy (HCAP) , you will explore, engage and reflect on your experiences to launch your career in a global society. The HCAP Student Success Center is a one-stop resource to help you achieve your academic, personal and professional goals. Receive tutoring, find internships, connect with industry professionals for job opportunities, and enhance your professional development skills through the center’s comprehensive programming.

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Dr. Howard Markel Dr. Howard Markel

• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/november-19-1945-harry-truman-calls-national-health-insurance-program

69 years ago, a president pitches his idea for national health care

This past July 30, we celebrated the 49th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid . Readers of this column will recall it was on that date in 1965 when President Lyndon Baines Johnson formally signed these two programs into law in Independence, Missouri, as former president Harry S. Truman and his steadfast wife, Bess, looked on with pride. As LBJ handed “Give ‘Em Hell Harry” and Bess the pens he used to affix his signature to the document, the President proclaimed Mr. Truman as “the real daddy of Medicare.”

President Harry S. Truman proposed a universal health care program in 1945. Photo by Edmonston Studio — The Library of Congress

Today marks the reason why LBJ bestowed such presidential credit to Harry Truman.

Back in 1945 — a mere seven months into a presidency he inherited from Franklin D. Roosevelt — Truman proposed a “universal” national health insurance program. In his remarks to Congress, he declared, “Millions of our citizens do not now have a full measure of opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health. Millions do not now have protection or security against the economic effects of sickness. The time has arrived for action to help them attain that opportunity and that protection.”

69 years ago, President Truman outlined five critical goals of national health .

The first was to address the number and disparity of physicians, nurses and other health professionals, especially in low-income and rural communities where there were “no adequate facilities for the practice of medicine” and “the earning capacity of the people in some communities makes it difficult if not impossible for doctors who practice there to make a living.” To begin to correct this problem, Truman wanted the federal government to construct modern, quality hospital across the nation—especially where they did not yet exist.

The second issue was the need to develop and bolster public health services (both to control the spread of infectious diseases and improve sanitary conditions across the nation) and maternal and child health care. With respect to the latter, Harry Truman reminded Congress, “the health of American children, like their education, should be recognized as a definite public responsibility.”

Third, he sought to increase the nation’s investment in both medical research and medical education.

The fourth problem addressed the high cost of individual medical care. “The principal reason why people do not receive the care they need,” Truman noted, “is that they cannot afford to pay for it on an individual basis at the time they need it. This is true not only for needy persons. It is also true for a large proportion of normally self-supporting persons.”

And fifth, he focused on the lost earnings that inevitably occur when serious illness strikes. “Sickness,” Truman cogently explained, “not only brings doctor bills; it also cuts off income.

Not surprisingly, it was President Truman’s proposal to fix the 4th and 5th problems with a national health insurance plan that provoked the loudest opposition. Truman proposed that every wage earning American pay monthly fees or taxes to cover the cost of all medical expenses in time of illness. The plan also called for a cash balance to be paid to policyholders, in the event of injury or illness, to replace the income those individuals lost.

His measured and careful description of the plan merits quoting:

“Under the plan I suggest, our people would continue to get medical and hospital services just as they do now — on the basis of their own voluntary decisions and choices. Our doctors and hospitals would continue to deal with disease with the same professional freedom as now. There would, however, be this all-important difference: whether or not patients get the services they need would not depend on how much they can afford to pay at the time…None of this is really new. The American people are the most insurance-minded people in the world. They will not be frightened off from health insurance because some people have misnamed it ‘socialized medicine.’ I repeat — what I am recommending is not socialized medicine. Socialized medicine means that all doctors work as employees of government. The American people want no such system. No such system is here proposed.”

The Truman plan was quickly converted into a Social Security expansion bill sponsored by Sens. Robert Wagner (D-NY) and James Murray (D-MT) and Rep. John Dingell Sr. (D-MI). A version of this bill had been proposed in 1943, when FDR was still president, but died in committee both because of the pressures of the war and the lack of presidential pressure on Congress.

At first, things looked somewhat rosy for the reinvigorated 1945 bill: the Democrats still controlled both the House of Representatives and the Senate and a number of prominent Americans vociferously supported it. Still, the nation was weary from war, the high taxes necessary to pay for FDR’s New Deal, and what many Americans perceived to be a too intrusive federal government.

Almost as soon as the reinvigorated bill was announced, the once-powerful American Medical Association (AMA) capitalized on the nation’s paranoia over the threat of Communism and, despite Truman’s assertions to the contrary, attacked the bill as “socialized medicine.” Even more outrageous, the AMA derided the Truman administration as “followers of the Moscow party line.” During congressional hearings in 1946, the AMA proposed its own plan emphasizing private insurance options, which actually represented a political shift from its previous position opposing any third party members in the delivery of health care.

Another historical actor entering the fray was Senator Robert Taft (R-OH), who introduced the Taft-Smith-Ball bill, which called for matching grants to states to subsidize private health insurance for the needy. Although the AMA supported this bill, Truman was against it because he believed it would halt the political progress he had made in guaranteeing every American health insurance.

Hearings and politics continued through 1946 but little progress was made. During the midterm elections of 1946, the Republicans regained control of both the Senate and the House for the first time since 1929, making the bill a dead issue.

Harry Truman continued to make health insurance a major issue of his campaign platform in 1948 and specifically castigated the AMA for calling his plan “un-American”:

“I put it to you, it is un-American to visit the sick, aid the afflicted or comfort the dying? I thought that was simple Christianity.”

Truman famously fooled the pollsters by winning re-election in 1948 and even the Congress was restored to Democratic control that fall. But this political power was no match for the AMA’s redoubled lobbying and advertising efforts, which were endorsed by more than 1,800 national organizations, including the American Bar Association, the American Legion and the American Farm Bureau Federation. Public support waned — and the bill quietly died (again) — as the middle class purchased private health insurance plans, labor unions began collectively bargaining for their members’ health benefits, and the advent of the Korean War.

Truman later called the failure to pass a national health insurance program one of the most bitter and troubling disappointments in his presidency. He must have been overjoyed in 1965 to watch Lyndon Johnson enact a health insurance plan for the elderly and the needy. Nevertheless, the nation would have to wait another 45 years before the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, a law that remains in jeopardy after Nov. 7, when the U.S. Supreme Court took on still another legal challenge to its constitutionality . That said, many would insist there remains a great more work to do to make health care affordable and accessible for all Americans.

Dr. Howard Markel writes a monthly column for the PBS NewsHour, highlighting momentous historical events that continue to shape modern medicine. He is the director of the Center for the History of Medicine and the George E. Wantz Distinguished Professor of the History of Medicine at the University of Michigan and the author of “The Secret of Life:  Rosalind Franklin, James Watson, Francis Crick and the Discovery of DNA’s Double Helix” (W.W. Norton, September ’21).

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