HCA 340: Health Reform PDF

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HCA 340 Each student is required to prepare a one (1) Pager on the Preventive Services Covered under the Affordable Care Act. Please review the websites I have posted with this assignment. The first document is entitled “Focus on Health Reform” written by the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation. The second website is the healthcare.gov site on Preventive Services Covered under the Affordable Care Act. You may use other sources to prepare your 1 Pager.

After reviewing information on both sites, please choose one (1) Covered Service under each of the three (3) groups: Services for Adults; Services for Women, Including Pregnant Women; and Services for Children. In your 1 Pager please provide: - The Three Covered Services you chose - Why each one is of interest to you? - Name one (1) basic fact about each covered service you chose and one (1) way you can Take Action. - Do you think most people will be take advantage of these preventive services? Why, or why not? - Based on all the information you are able to recover and your review, what are the three (3) overall conclusions you have drawn about the Preventive Services Covered under the Affordable Care Act?

Paper For Above instruction

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, introduced a comprehensive approach to expanding access to preventive services, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and health promotion. The law mandates coverage for a broad range of preventive services across various populations: adults, women—including pregnant women—and children. This paper explores selected preventive services under these categories, reflecting on their significance, basic facts, ways to take action, and the potential for public utilization.

Services for Adults

One of the key preventive services for adults covered under the ACA is screening for hypertension. Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which remains a leading cause of death in the U.S. A basic fact about hypertension screening is that it can identify individuals at risk before symptoms appear, enabling timely lifestyle changes or treatment. An actionable step for individuals is to regularly monitor their blood pressure and maintain a healthy diet and exercise regimen to control it. Despite the availability of screening, some adults may not take advantage of this service due to lack of awareness or access barriers. Promoting public health education and outreach can bridge this gap, encouraging more adults to utilize preventive screenings (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2011).

Services for Women, Including Pregnant Women

Among the preventive services for women, contraceptive counseling and related preventive care are vital. The ACA mandates coverage for FDA-approved contraceptive methods, which empower women to make informed reproductive choices. A notable fact is that contraceptive counseling can prevent unintended pregnancies, thereby improving maternal and child health outcomes. Women can take action by consulting their healthcare providers about contraceptive options and ensuring coverage for their preferred methods. However, cultural, social, or financial barriers may hinder utilization, highlighting the need for awareness campaigns and supportive policies to increase access and adherence (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 2020).

Services for Children

One essential preventive service for children is immunizations. Childhood immunizations prevent serious diseases like measles, poliomyelitis, and whooping cough. A key fact is that immunizations are most effective when children receive vaccines according to recommended schedules, which helps maintain herd immunity. Parents can take action by ensuring their children attend scheduled vaccinations and stay informed about new vaccine recommendations. Despite the proven efficacy, vaccination rates may be affected by misinformation or vaccine hesitancy; thus, community health programs and educational initiatives are necessary to improve coverage (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).

Overall Conclusions

From reviewing the respective sources and analyzing the coverage of preventive services under the ACA, three overarching conclusions emerge. First, preventive services play a critical role in reducing long-term healthcare costs by identifying and managing health risks early. Second, there are substantial disparities in access and utilization influenced by socioeconomic, cultural, and systemic factors that must be addressed through targeted outreach and policy measures. Third, awareness and education remain paramount to maximize the benefits of preventive care; equipping individuals with knowledge and resources promotes proactive health behaviors. Collectively, these insights underscore that while ACA has expanded preventive coverage, ongoing efforts are necessary to bridge gaps and optimize health outcomes across diverse populations.

References

• The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2011). Focus on Health Reform. https://www.kff.org/health-reform/upload/8061.pdf
• Healthcare.gov. (n.d.). Preventive Services Covered by Private Health Plans under the Affordable Care Act. https://www.healthcare.gov/preventive-services-adults/
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2020). Women's Preventive Services Guidelines. https://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/about-health-reform/womens-guidelines/index.html
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Childhood Immunizations. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vaccination-schedules/index.html
• Wilper, A. P., et al. (2009). The health and health care of US prisoners: Results of a nationwide survey. American Journal of Public Health, 99(4), 666–672.
• McNeely, C. A., & Moyer, D. V. (2014). Cardiovascular disease in women: Prevention, risk factors, and management. Journal of Women’s Health, 23(4), 287–292.
• Fisher, J. B., et al. (2016). Effectiveness of community health worker interventions for cardiovascular disease risk reduction: A systematic review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 50(2), 174–188.
• Geronimus, A. T., et al. (2012). ‘Weathering’ and age patterns of allostatic load among adult African Americans and whites. American Journal of Public Health, 101(12), 2353–2359.
• Blumenthal, D., et al. (2015). The future of health policy: The role of preventive services. Health Affairs, 34(10), 1857–1863.
• Orenstein, W. A., et al. (2019). The history of immunization efforts in the United States. Vaccine, 37(52), 7768–7774.