Healthcare Policy And Ethics Discussion 04: Ethics ✓ Solved

HA3300D - Healthcare Policy and Ethics Discussion 04: Ethics in the Era of ACA

Discuss how the ACA or Affordable Care Act is changing the business of healthcare and the ethical issues it raises. Explain whether the ACA solves existing ethical dilemmas in healthcare, identify new ethical conflicts hospitals might face because of the ACA, and analyze which ethical theorists have the most to say about the ACA. Respond to your classmates from a patient’s perspective regarding any ethical dilemmas the ACA poses for individuals, and share what healthcare administrators should know about the ACA related to ethics.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

The implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, has profoundly impacted the healthcare industry by expanding access to insurance coverage, altering healthcare delivery, and introducing new ethical considerations. As a healthcare administrator, understanding these changes and their ethical implications is vital for effective governance and patient advocacy. This paper explores how the ACA addresses existing ethical dilemmas, the emerging conflicts it introduces, and the ethical theories that provide insight into its multifaceted impacts.

Existing Ethical Dilemmas the ACA Addresses

One of the most significant ethical dilemmas in healthcare prior to the ACA was the issue of healthcare access and equity. Many Americans lacked insurance, leading to disparities in healthcare quality and outcomes. The ACA aimed to mitigate this by expanding Medicaid and mandating health insurance coverage, thus promoting distributive justice—an ethical principle emphasizing fair resource allocation (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013). Additionally, ethical tensions surrounding patient autonomy and informed consent were heightened by disparities in healthcare literacy; the ACA's emphasis on preventive care and patient-centered services sought to improve these considerations.

Furthermore, cost containment and the moral hazard associated with overutilization have historically posed ethical issues. The ACA's push for value-based care and reduced unnecessary expenditures reflects an effort to balance individual needs with societal sustainability, aligning with utilitarian ethics that aim for the greatest good for the greatest number (Persad et al., 2013).

New Ethical Conflicts Arising from the ACA

While the ACA attempts to resolve some dilemmas, it also introduces new challenges. For instance, the mandate requiring individuals to purchase insurance raises questions about personal autonomy versus societal benefit—a debate rooted in deontological ethics which emphasizes individual rights (Ubel & Loewenstein, 2012). Hospitals and providers might face ethical conflicts about resource allocation, especially with increased patient loads and constrained budgets, which could compromise quality care.

Moreover, issues of conscience emerge as some healthcare providers may object to participating in certain procedures (e.g., reproductive health), prompting conflicts between professional ethics and religious or moral beliefs. The ACA’s emphasis on coverage for a broader range of services intensifies these dilemmas, forcing hospitals to develop policies balancing ethical commitments, legal mandates, and patient needs.

Ethical Theorists and the ACA

Ethical theories such as utilitarianism, emphasizing the maximization of overall societal well-being, provide a lens through which the ACA's policies can be evaluated (Persad et al., 2013). Deontological ethics, focusing on individual rights and duties, also offers significant insights, especially concerning mandated coverage and patient autonomy (Ubel & Loewenstein, 2012). Principlism, with its core principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice, is frequently invoked to assess the ethical dimensions of health policy changes introduced by the ACA (Beauchamp & Childress, 2013).

Furthermore, virtue ethics emphasizes the moral character of healthcare providers and policymakers, advocating for compassion, integrity, and justice in implementing the law’s provisions. These perspectives collectively aid in understanding the complex ethical landscape shaped by the ACA.

Implications for Patients and Healthcare Administrators

From the patient perspective, the ACA raises ethical dilemmas around access, affordability, and choice. Patients may feel empowered by expanded coverage but also burdened by increased responsibilities or moral conflicts regarding certain covered services. Healthcare administrators need to recognize these patient concerns and address them ethically by promoting transparency, respecting patient autonomy, and ensuring equitable treatment.

Administrators should also be aware of ongoing ethical debates related to resource allocation, provider conscience rights, and quality standards. They must balance legal compliance with ethical care delivery, fostering trust and integrity within their institutions (Gostin & Hodge, 2015). Educating staff about the ethical principles underlying the ACA can facilitate more patient-centered and ethically sound decision-making and help navigate emerging conflicts effectively.

Conclusion

The ACA has transformed healthcare delivery by addressing longstanding ethical issues such as access and equity, but it also introduces complex new conflicts involving autonomy, resource distribution, and moral objections. Ethical theories like utilitarianism, deontology, and principlism provide valuable frameworks for evaluating these changes. For healthcare administrators and patients alike, understanding these ethical dimensions is essential for fostering a just and compassionate healthcare system that aligns with societal values and individual rights.

References

• Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (2013). Principles of biomedical ethics (7th ed.). Oxford University Press.
• Gostin, L. O., & Hodge, J. G. (2015). The Law and Ethics of Health Care Reform: What’s Right, What’s Left. Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics, 43(3), 633–635.
• Persad, G., Ettinger, M., & Buchanan, A. (2013). Principles of justice in health care reform. The New England Journal of Medicine, 368(10), 936-943.
• Ubel, P. A., & Loewenstein, G. (2012). Disadvantaged groups and health care reform: What's fair? BMJ, 344, e1376.