Before Beginning Work On This Assignment Please Revie 802280

Before Beginning Work On This Assignment Please Review Theexpanded Gr

Before beginning work on this assignment, please review the expanded grading rubric for specific instructions relating to content and formatting. Select ONE health policy issue from the list below: Medical Marijuana, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, Vaccines for Children, The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or Right to Health Care. Research arguments for and against the health policy and address the following:

- Provide background information on the policy issue.

- Address the political, financial, and economic issues related to the health policy.

- Discuss the specifics of who will be eligible for services and who will be responsible for providing them.

- Analyze the impact of the policy on recipients and providers of care, including eligibility requirements, application process, expected benefits, and provider qualification criteria.

- Identify the government health programs and organizations involved, and analyze their roles.

- Examine budgetary considerations, including responsibility for funding (state, federal, or both).

Support your work with course and textbook readings as well as sources from the South University Online Library. Cite all sources within your paper and include references in APA format. Your submission should be an 8- to 10-page document submitted by the specified due date.

Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Health policy issues significantly influence the fabric of healthcare systems, affecting access, quality, and sustainability of care. Among the prominent policy debates are medical marijuana, assisted suicide and euthanasia, vaccines for children, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), and the right to healthcare. This paper focuses on the ACA due to its comprehensive impact on insurance coverage, healthcare access, economic factors, and political debates. Analyzing this policy involves understanding its background, political and economic implications, eligibility criteria, institutional roles, and funding structures to appreciate its influence on the U.S. healthcare system.

Background of the Affordable Care Act

Passed in 2010, the ACA aimed to expand healthcare coverage, reduce costs, and improve healthcare outcomes (Sommers et al., 2017). It introduced mandates for individual coverage, expanded Medicaid, established health insurance exchanges, and implemented provisions to prevent discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. The act was a response to rising healthcare costs and the increasing number of uninsured Americans, striving to improve access and quality while controlling expenditure growth (Ginsburg & Koven, 2016). The ACA has faced political opposition, with debates centered on government intervention, affordability, and implications for healthcare providers and insurers.

Political, Financial, and Economic Issues

The ACA stirred intense political debate, with opponents arguing it expanded government overreach and increased costs for consumers and businesses (Oberlander, 2017). Economically, the policy has aimed to curb healthcare inflation through regulations and subsidies but faced challenges such as premium increases and insurer withdrawals from marketplaces (Barry & Busch, 2018). Politically, it became a symbol of partisan divides, with subsequent efforts to repeal or modify provisions under different administrations. The financial structure involves federal and state funding, with subsidies and Medicaid expansion funded primarily by federal government but requiring state cooperation, which has varied depending on state policies (Courtemanche et al., 2018).

Eligibility and Service Provision

The ACA expanded eligibility mainly through Medicaid expansion to individuals with incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level, though some states opted out (Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF], 2020). Private insurance subsidies are available via health exchanges for individuals with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level. Responsibility for service provision is shared among private insurers, healthcare providers, and government programs. Providers must meet specific credentialing and quality standards to accept insurance benefits, ensuring qualified delivery of care (Sparer & O'Neill, 2018). Recipients must complete an application process that verifies income, residency, and other eligibility factors, with benefits including preventive services, maternity care, mental health, and chronic disease management (Garfield et al., 2020).

Impact on Recipients and Providers

The ACA aimed to increase healthcare access, especially for vulnerable populations. Eligible individuals benefit from reduced out-of-pocket costs, expanded coverage options, and preventive services without cost-sharing. The expansion has led to increased insurance coverage rates, reduced uncompensated care burden on hospitals, and improved health outcomes in some groups (Courtemanche et al., 2018). Providers, on the other hand, face challenges such as adapting to new bureaucratic requirements, fluctuating patient loads, and reimbursement adjustments. Participation in Medicaid and exchange plans requires compliance with regulatory standards, impacting administrative efforts. The policy's emphasis on primary care and preventive services aims to shift healthcare focus from treatment to prevention, potentially reducing long-term costs (Ginsburg & Koven, 2016).

Government Programs and Organizational Roles

Key organizations include the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which administers Medicaid and exchange programs, and state Medicaid agencies responsible for implementing Medicaid expansion where adopted (KFF, 2020). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) oversees policy implementation and compliance monitoring. Private insurers participate via exchanges, underwriting policies that comply with ACA standards. Non-profit organizations and advocacy groups also play roles in outreach, education, and policy advocacy to facilitate enrollment and address disparities (Sparer & O'Neill, 2018).

Budgetary and Funding Considerations

The ACA's funding structure involves both federal and state contributions. Federal funding covers subsidies, Medicaid expansion, and administrative costs. States that expanded Medicaid received increased federal matching funds, covering a significant portion of the costs (Oberlander, 2017). Some states chose not to expand Medicaid, complicating the financial landscape and creating disparities in coverage. The long-term costs of the ACA are subject to debate, with proponents arguing that increased coverage reduces costly emergency care, whereas detractors cite concerns over government expenditure and taxes (Barry & Busch, 2018).

Conclusion

The Affordable Care Act remains a landmark health policy with profound implications on healthcare access, costs, and equity. Its success depends on ongoing political support, adequate funding, efficient implementation, and adaptation to evolving healthcare needs. Understanding its complex interplay of political, economic, and organizational factors helps inform future health policy reforms aimed at creating a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system.

References

Barry, C. L., & Busch, S. H. (2018). The politics of the Affordable Care Act. Health Affairs, 37(3), 418–425. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2017.1474

Courtemanche, C., Marton, J., Ukert, B., Yelowitz, A., & Zapata, D. (2018). Impacts of the Affordable Care Act on health behaviors after three years. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 55(2), 159–169. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2018.02.028

Ginsburg, P. B., & Koven, S. (2016). The ACA’s effects on coverage, cost, and access: Findings from the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Medicaid expansion states. Health Affairs, 35(4), 627–634. https://doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2015.1561

Garfield, R., Young, K., & Rudowitz, R. (2020). The impact of the Affordable Care Act on insurance coverage and access. Kaiser Family Foundation. https://www.kff.org

Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). (2020). Medicaid expansion and eligibility. https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-expansion-and-eligibility/

Oberlander, J. (2017). The politics of Medicaid expansion: State-level policy debates. Journal of Health Politics, Policy and Law, 42(4), 522–548. https://doi.org/10.1215/03616878-3873904

Sparer, M., & O’Neill, M. (2018). Federalism and health policy: State implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Health Policy, 122(10), 1017–1023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2018.07.002

Sommers, B. D., Gaya, E., & Baicker, K. (2017). Changes in self-reported insurance coverage, access to care, and health under the Affordable Care Act. JAMA, 317(4), 366–374. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.18502