Analyze At Least Two New Provisions In The Affordable Care A ✓ Solved

Analyze At Least Two 2 New Provisions To The Affordable Care

Analyze at least two (2) new provisions to the Affordable Care Act. Interpret the implications of these new provisions for access to care for families. Provide specific examples of such implications to support your rationale. Appraise the inherent impact of at least (2) Affordable Care Act quality initiatives on quality of care for both the consumer and the healthcare provider. Support your response with specific examples of the effects on both aforementioned groups.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, has undergone several modifications aimed at improving healthcare access and quality across the United States. This paper will analyze two new provisions introduced to the ACA and evaluate their implications for family access to healthcare. Additionally, it will appraise two ACA quality initiatives and their impact on both consumers and healthcare providers.

New Provisions in the Affordable Care Act

One of the noteworthy new provisions to the ACA is the expansion of Medicaid under the provision known as the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021. This expansion allows states that previously opted out of Medicaid expansion to receive federal incentives to cover more low-income adults. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Medicaid expansion provision has facilitated improved access to healthcare services for families who previously lacked coverage, reflecting a significant step towards achieving universal healthcare (KFF, 2021).

Another significant provision is the enhancement of subsidies for purchasing health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace. The ARPA temporarily increased the premium subsidies, making health insurance more affordable for families with varying income levels. This measure aims to reduce the number of uninsured individuals and ease the financial burden on families. A report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that these enhanced subsidies have led to record enrollment in Health Insurance Marketplaces, with millions of people benefiting from lower premiums (HHS, 2021).

Implications for Access to Care for Families

The implications of the Medicaid expansion are profound, particularly for families living in poverty. With expanded eligibility, families can now qualify for Medicaid and receive essential healthcare services without the burden of exorbitant out-of-pocket costs. For example, a family of four earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level can now access crucial healthcare services, including routine checkups, vaccinations, and preventive screenings without facing financial barriers (Cohen et al., 2021). As a result, these families experience improved health outcomes due to increased access to necessary medical care.

Moreover, the enhanced subsidies for the Health Insurance Marketplace provide families with greater financial security and access to comprehensive healthcare plans. Families that previously struggled to afford insurance now have the means to purchase plans that cover a broader range of services, from mental health care to substance use treatment. A family that could not afford insurance may now find a suitable plan that significantly decreases their financial strain while ensuring they receive adequate medical attention (Gaffney & McCormick, 2019).

Quality Initiatives Under the Affordable Care Act

The Affordable Care Act has also implemented several quality initiatives aimed at improving the quality of care provided to consumers while minimizing costs for healthcare providers. Two notable initiatives include the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program (HRRP) and the Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program.

The HRRP aims to reduce hospital readmission rates by financially penalizing hospitals with high readmission rates for certain conditions, including heart failure and pneumonia. This initiative encourages hospitals to enhance their discharge planning processes and post-discharge follow-ups, ultimately improving patient outcomes. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that HRRP has led to a significant decline in readmissions across various hospitals, improving the overall quality of care for consumers (Hernandez et al., 2020).

Similarly, the Value-Based Purchasing program rewards hospitals with financial incentives for delivering high-quality care. By tying reimbursements to the achievement of specific quality metrics, this program encourages hospitals to focus on patient satisfaction, patient safety, and overall healthcare quality. For example, hospitals that perform well in patient satisfaction surveys and demonstrate low rates of adverse events may receive increased reimbursements, thereby motivating them to prioritize care quality (Van Santen et al., 2020).

Impacts on Consumers and Healthcare Providers

The implementation of the HRRP and VBP programs has had substantial impacts on both consumers and healthcare providers. For consumers, these initiatives translate to improved quality of care, safer hospital environments, and greater satisfaction with healthcare services. Patients can expect more thorough communication and follow-up care, resulting in better overall health outcomes (Naylor et al., 2017).

For healthcare providers, these quality initiatives encourage a culture of excellence within hospitals. By holding providers accountable for the quality of care they deliver, these programs foster continuous improvement in clinical practices and patient engagement strategies. However, they also pose challenges, as hospitals must adapt to new performance measures and invest in quality improvement initiatives, which can be resource-intensive (Ginsburg & Page, 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the new provisions introduced to the Affordable Care Act, including Medicaid expansion and enhanced premium subsidies, have significantly improved access to healthcare for families. These changes have led to increased enrollment in insurance, reduced financial barriers, and better overall health outcomes. Additionally, the ACA's quality initiatives, such as the Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program and Value-Based Purchasing, have enhanced care quality for consumers while encouraging healthcare providers to focus on delivering high-quality services. As the ACA continues to evolve, its provisions and initiatives will play crucial roles in shaping the healthcare landscape in the United States.

References

• Cohen, R., et al. (2021). The Effects of Medicaid Expansion on Access to Health Care. American Journal of Public Health.
• Gaffney, A., & McCormick, D. (2019). The Role of the Affordable Care Act in Expanding Health Insurance Coverage. Health Affairs.
• Ginsburg, P. B., & Page, A. (2019). The Changing Landscape of Quality Measurement: Implications for Health Care Professionals. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law.
• Hernandez, A. F., et al. (2020). Medicare Hospital Readmission Reduction Program: A Quality Improvement Perspective. Journal of the American Medical Association.
• HHS. (2021). Health Insurance Marketplaces 2021 Open Enrollment Period: Final Report. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
• KFF. (2021). Medicaid Expansion and the Implications for Health Coverage and Access. Kaiser Family Foundation.
• Naylor, M. D., et al. (2017). The Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on Patients: A 2016 Research Review. Nursing Outlook.
• Van Santen, S. R., et al. (2020). Impact of Value-Based Purchasing on Hospital Performance. The American Journal of Managed Care.