...Affordable Care Act PPA 601 Foundations of Public Administration Timothy Smith December 20, 2015 If an individual needs emergency medical care, the first place that most would seek treatment is through the emergency room at the closest hospital. Even if that individual does not have any medical insurance, they know that they can and will receive treatment if they go to the emergency room instead of going to the doctor’s office. The reason that individuals can count on this serves is because of the many women and men in Congress that have spent many hours making public policies around health care that showcase how providers will attend to their patients. Public policy is the way that the government maintains order and also how the government addresses the needs of its supporters through actions that are outlined by its constitution. That definition seems vague because public policy is not a concrete thing but rather it is a term that is used to describe a plethora of laws, mandates, or guidelines that are founded through a political process. There are many types of public policies because policies are put in place to address the needs of individuals and those policies are divided into different categories as they relate to society. For example, health policy includes not only insurance but also includes all policies that are related to the heath of a certain group. When the AIDS epidemic came about in the early 1980’s, governments from all over the world had to initiate...
Words: 3049 - Pages: 13
...Being able to go see a doctor when sick is something many people take for granted. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has made something as simple as seeking medical treatment when needed possible for many Americans. The Affordable Care Act is an act in the healthcare system that was enacted into law by President Obama in 2010. The Affordable Care Act has three main objectives; making healthcare insurance affordable and available to many Americans, expanding the Medical care insurance to cover all adults earning less than the 138 percent of the national poverty level, and promoting innovative procedures of delivering the medical care so as to lower healthcare costs (Schembri & Ghaddar, 2018). The ACA has promoted health care access by many...
Words: 1635 - Pages: 7
...Regulatory Health Issue: Affordable Care Act Regulations There are many, critical regulatory issues in healthcare that need to be addressed. “While the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, Congress is holding hearings on the federal regulatory process. The two topics are more closely related than you might think” (Ellig). The one that jumps out to me and needs addressed more in-depth is the regulation of the payments for healthcare. As well as, the actual regulatory process and how certain sections of the healthcare system are picked, need to be regulated. Not only is the regulation of this part of the healthcare system have many issues but in general choosing what to regulate and the actual process of research needs looked into. Regulating parts of the healthcare system is done to ensure that healthcare facilities, and businesses, laws, and acts are properly dealt out. There needs to be rules for laws, so that everyone is treated fairly and equally. The article explains that there was not enough research done to require new or improved regulatory requirements. The Affordable care act was put in place by President Barrack Obama to ensure that all Americans have the ability to purchase insurance for themselves and their families. It was put into play to see that it was affordable and did not discriminate against age, race, sex, and illness. Some of the regulations made were ensuring that insurance companies could not deny coverage to someone...
Words: 714 - Pages: 3
...IMPEMENTATION OF HEALTHCARE POLICY IN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA: CASE SCENARIO THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT BACKGROUND The argument that every American citizen should have a guaranteed healthcare cover takes two dimensions (Grover, 2007). Is it that all citizens should have access to the same level of healthcare? Or should they have a right to some minimum healthcare cover? The U.S government has selected the second option in relation to the policies it creates directed to healthcare. There are quite a number of policies that have been put in place to realize this goal since there is no single healthcare policy that can cater for all of this demands. The government has made a move to provide access to medical services. In the past, particular groups of people have been selected based on their economic status or their distinctive social circumstances. The policies include Medicaid (for poor children), Medicare (for the elderly), Veterans’ Administration (for veterans), Indian Health Services (for Native Americans) and renal failure security (for transplants and kidney dialysis). The purpose of this study The research’s main focus is to investigate the how government and nurses are involved in the development and implementation of healthcare related policies. The District of Columbia will be the highlight of this paper. Accordingly, the paper will put more emphasis on one of the most recent health care policies in the Obama governance i.e. The Affordable Care Act. Significance of this...
Words: 1771 - Pages: 8
...Running head: HEALTH CARE LAWS, POLICIES, AND REGULATIONS Health Care Laws, Policies, and Regulations Frank Frimpong Manso HCS 545 July 4, 2016, 2016 Prof Elam Health Care Laws, Policies, and Regulations Health Law, Regulation, and Policy has become the means of health protection and prevention for the American people. The government highly regulates these laws improving the health of the public by developing programs, resources, and tools, aiding in health care access, however, there are also different private bodies involved in regulating the healthcare sector. Health care regulation is focused on three main roles; cost control, quality control, and access expansion and control. This paper will discuss the impact of ACA on health care organizational policies. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a health care regulation signed into law on the 23rd of March, 2010. The law’s main focus had been to increase the affordability and quality of American health insurance. Its policies were focused on lowering the rates imposed on the uninsured through the expansion of both the private and public insurance covers. It had also aimed to reduce the health care costs incurred by the government along with citizens. Barely seven days after its enforcement had a new health care law come into effect with amendments to the ACA. On March 30, 2010, the president of the United States signed into law the Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. The law had been...
Words: 1246 - Pages: 5
...Regulation, and Policy Paper The Affordable Care Act is a law that has had a significant impact on the health care industry. The Affordable Care Act, also known as the ACA, is a health care law implemented in 2010 that gives consumers more control over their health care. The law gives Americans the ability to make knowledgeable decisions about their health. The law is influenced by lack of comprehensive insurance coverage, high insurance costs, and limited choice of health care. The law makes health care more reasonably priced, accessible, and of higher quality for families, the elderly, businesses and tax payers. Also, the law allows previously uninsured Americans to obtain sufficient coverage. The law is important because it improves health care. It improves health care by increasing insurance coverage. Medical coverage is available to adults up until the age of 26 and denial for pre-existing medical conditions is prohibited. The law is also important because it improves health care costs. The law ends lifetime limits on coverage and reviews premium increases. More care options are also available with the law. The law removes insurance company barriers to emergency services, allows patients to choose their health care provider, and covers preventative care without an out-of-pocket cost to the patient. Throughout this paper, there will be discussion on several different topics regarding the impact of the Affordable Care Act on health care organizational policies and the general...
Words: 1773 - Pages: 8
...of Medicaid Name School Abstract On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act (ACA) into law, allowing all Americans access to affordable health care. Despite the urgent need to provide health care to all Americans some Governors and elected Congressmen continue to debate over the necessity to expand Medicaid and the ACA. The Supreme Court on June 28, 2012 ruled in support of the ACA by upholding the individual mandate which require Americans to have health care insurance. Americans without health care insurance, because of this new health care policy will be able to either purchase insurance through the exchange market or through the expansion of Medicaid. Some states are against the expansion of Medicaid even though the government will fund 100% of the program for the first 3 years. The states that decide to opt out of the Medicaid expansion will heap some negative impact on several stakeholders. The ultimate goal of the ACA and the expansion of Medicaid was to provide quality health to the many uninsured. Expansion of Medicaid The implementation of an important component of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is the expansion of Medicaid. The expansion of Medicaid ensures health care coverage for children, poor people, disabled people and some elderly citizens. Unfortunately, 20 states have decided to opt out of this policy leaving access to health care unavailable to millions of needy people. It remains unclear why so many governors and...
Words: 2326 - Pages: 10
...Can effective Leadership influence Policy and Change in healthcare? Abstract This paper discusses how effective Leadership can influence policy and changes in the Unite States healthcare system. The implementation of new policy is often meant to improve the quality of the nation's ever-changing health care system. Several research organizations particularly healthcare based, have examined the strengths and limitations of health care in the United States and have recommended strategies to evaluate, improve the quality of health care, and leaderships ability to influence implemented changes to the system. This question proposed is can leadership style encouraged and influence both public and private initiatives to define and monitor the quality of care, measure health outcomes, develop better evidence and guidance on the appropriate use of medical services, and organize systems to improve health services and outcomes? The issues summarized in this paper are from scholarly journals, and text that offers several prospective, including real life examples that will illustrate my argument. The future of healthcare seems more defined that ever or at least compared to the last 60 years. Our great nation has had a significant history of great leadership both transactional and transformational. I will start off by saying, Leadership is not just about performing a job: It’s about making a difference. When thinking about changes in healthcare, whether it is institutional...
Words: 1764 - Pages: 8
...Running head: THE IMPACT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT 1 THE IMPACT OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT 2 The Impact of the Affordable Care Act The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in March 2010 by President Obama and has reformed the way health care is handled in the United States. The Affordable Care Act prohibits insurers from denying coverage for preexisting health conditions making it a landmark movement by trying to improve and control costs in health care. A significant impact has been made on the provision of health coverage to Americans, and is the most far-reaching law affecting managed care and insurance since the enactment of Medicaid and Medicare (Kongstvedt, 2013). By ensuring that all Americans have access to health care and are covered under some kind of policy, the Affordable Care Act is expected to give 30 million more Americans health insurance putting an increased demand on an already taxed workforce. According to Anderson (2014) the ACA breaks the promises of access and quality of care for all Americans by escalating the shortage and increasing the burden and stress on an already fragile system. Although there are many kinks to work out, health care reform is not only necessary, but it must happen in order to keep moving forward. Before reform our health care system was truly in crisis. The Impact of the ACA on Current Practices in Health Insurance The ACA has changed a lot in health insurance...
Words: 2089 - Pages: 9
...The Policy Process: Part 1 HCS 455 January 13, 2014 The Policy Process: Part I – Health Care Reform Policies are considered and reviewed on a daily basis with intentions of solving problems and improving quality of life. The policies that are implemented in order to improve the health care system for Americans have an affect on every individual person. With this being said, it is especially essential that all policies are carefully contemplated before they are actually implemented. This paper will address how topics become policies. This will include three stages, which consist of the formulation stage, the legislative stage, and the implementation stage. There are several stages that a policy must go through before it can be established. These steps are essential to the process and need to be efficiently followed through throughout the policy process in order to be certain the the policy will in fact solve the problem that is at hand as well as be able to improve the quality of life for all citizens. The stages included in the establishment of a policy include: agenda building, formulation, adoption, implementation, evaluation, and termination. There are many situations that represent the economic need that America has for an improvement in health care as well as the introduction of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which is also known as the Health Care Reform. Before the country was able to experience the benefits of this policy, going through...
Words: 1421 - Pages: 6
... When the health care program was released there seemed to be minor and minimum issues for civilians to apply online. There are several different parts to this healthcare program. The Obama care program was established to help low income, fixed income individuals, people who could not afford to pay the regular amount for insurance. The Obama care program is intended to help individuals with affordable insurance plans. This health care program is regards of the economy, the issues that individuals have finding jobs, getting a job with a company that allows decent insurance, and help their employees. Not just the employees who have been with the company for years. The program does not necessarily create insurance but it is to help regulate private insurance to maintain privacy, the rights of individuals and in the process it gives them high-quality insurance. Going with this health care program it allows the fact that like other types of insurance you cannot be withheld from because of certain types of health issues. It allows you to have insurance like others do. The Obama care program allows assistance for the older generations which are also known as baby boomers. It is said that once you purchase a plan it will and can cover the minimum and the standard essential benefits that one may need to have insurance. With your medical history that is no way possible that you can be declined to have the insurance plan that you have applied for. Due to Obama care is available for anyone...
Words: 1229 - Pages: 5
...Executive Summary The United States continues to spend significantly more on health care than any country in the world; however, even though with this statistic the United States has a lot of uninsured and does not have the healthiest citizens. The lack of universal healthcare coverage in the United States has been a forefront issue. With the overwhelming amount of uninsured Americans and the past unsuccessful efforts of health care reform, the possibility of universal health care seemed to be very unlikely. The new healthcare reform bill that was recently passed under Obama’s administration anticipates covering 30 more million of the uninsured (Riegelman, 2010). However, this bill does not offer universal healthcare. While excellent medical care is available in the United States, the rising cost and the U.S. health care delivery system present many challenges for the consumer and lawmakers. This paper addresses four dimensions that are pivotal to the successes and failures of the system: cost, efficiency, quality. The cost of the U.S. health care system is higher than any country in the world. Its efficiency is also under heavy scrutiny. If it were not an emergency most physicians would require insurance verification. Therefore, patients would be delayed of treatment. Moreover, The healthcare system in the U.S. should be redesigned in terms of prevention rather than treatment when people are already sick. Insurance should not go higher for people that have pre-existing conditions...
Words: 3090 - Pages: 13
...Policy Analysis Paper The fate of uninsured Veterans: A policy Analysis University of Mississippi Medical Center School of Nursing Define the problem and assemble the evidence Too many Veterans in the United States lack health insurance and are ineligible to receive care provided by the Veteran’s Health Administration. According to American Community Survey (ACS) conducted in 2010, one in 10 of the nation’s 12.5 million veterans under the age of 65 is uninsured. A veteran is defined by federal law as any person who served for any length of time in any military service branch. Contrary to the presumption of most, not all veterans qualify for free healthcare through the Department of Veteran Affairs. The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) operates as a branch of the Department of Veterans Affairs and is the largest health system in the nation. It is recognized for its commitment to providing high-quality population specific healthcare. The VHA also works closely with academic medical centers across the nation. Haley and Kenney (2012) identify eligibility for health care provided by the VHA as being on veteran status, service-connected disabilities and income level. Other factors include demographic location and cost sharing requirements. Health insurance coverage for veterans as with other groups of nonelderly adults has heavy dependence on access to employer sponsored insurance (ESI) and the costs of obtaining it. It must also be considered that the majority of...
Words: 6628 - Pages: 27
...The Affordable Care Act and Women Benefits The Affordable Care Act, also known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), and informally as Obamacare, was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23rd, 2010. The aim of the Act is a health care law aimed at improving the health care system of the United States by widening health coverage to more Americans, as well as protecting existing health insurance policy holders. Those who already have health insurance will benefit from the legislation in various ways. Insurance companies will not be able to cancel coverage if someone gets sick, out-of-pocket cost will be covered for preventive and screening services. Preventive care and early detection of diseases can lead to effective treatment and improved health outcomes while cost-sharing (copayment, coinsurance, or deductible) can be a barrier to women’s access to care. The aim here is to diagnose diseases and conditions early on, when the treatments are most effective. Not only does Obamacare make healthcare available to more than 30 million people who were formerly unable to get insurance, but for women in particular it eliminates unfair obstacles to getting care. The ACA and Expanded Insurance Coverage Today, most nonelderly women are covered by health insurance offered by employers. However, women are more likely than men to be covered as family members through their spouse’s employer. That means that women’s coverage is often dependent on their...
Words: 1569 - Pages: 7
...the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) in 2008, prior to the Affordable Care Act passing, stated a two year study on the nursing profession and changes needed to advance the future of nursing practice. The introduction of the report states the groups “established a 2-year Initiative on the Future of Nursing. The cornerstone of the initiative is this committee, which was tasked with producing a report containing recommendations for an action-oriented blueprint for the future of nursing, including changes in public and institutional policies at the national, state, and local levels” (IOM, 2011). This report also determined that nurses should continue to strive for higher levels of education and advanced training using an improved education system that promotes seamless academic progression unlike the stair-step type systems currently in place that do not facilitate education advancement. So when Congress passed the the Affordable Care Act March of 2010, which is the biggest reformation of the healthcare system since the Medicare and Medicaid programs were first created in 1965, created even more of a need for more nurses in advanced clinical roles. According to Medicaid.gov, “The Affordable Care Act is actually two separate pieces of legislation; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (P.L. 111-148) and the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-152). Together these 2 legislative acts expand Medicaid coverage to millions of low-income Americans and...
Words: 1633 - Pages: 7
