Individual Project: Understanding The Changing Health

Typeindividual Projectunitunderstanding The Changing Health Care Del

Consider the different stakeholders and perspectives impacted by health policy. How does access to insurance differ from access to care? Provide 1 specific example from your personal or professional life or from current events to support your response, and explain why this distinction is important. How did the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 address access to insurance? How does current enacted legislation impact access to care? What do you see as the ultimate goal of expanding insurance coverage? If access to insurance coverage and medical care are increased through health care reform, what unanticipated consequences might arise? List the consequences associated with health stakeholders and perspectives.

Paper For Above instruction

Healthcare reform in the United States is intricately linked to the various stakeholders involved in shaping, implementing, and experiencing health policies. Understanding these diverse perspectives is essential to grasp the full impact of legislative changes on healthcare access and quality. The primary stakeholders include policymakers, healthcare providers, insurance companies, patients, and advocacy groups, each with distinct interests and concerns.

Healthcare policy profoundly influences both access to insurance and access to care, yet the two are not synonymous. Access to insurance refers to the availability of coverage that can financially protect individuals from high medical costs. Conversely, access to care pertains to the ability to obtain needed medical services. For example, an individual might have insurance but still face hurdles in physically reaching healthcare providers due to geographic distances or lack of transportation. This distinction is crucial because insurance coverage alone does not guarantee actual receipt of healthcare services, highlighting the importance of addressing both financial and logistical barriers to achieve comprehensive healthcare access.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), enacted in 2010, aimed to improve access to insurance by expanding Medicaid, establishing health insurance exchanges, and mandating individual coverage. These measures increased insurance coverage rates, especially among previously uninsured populations, thus reducing the number of Americans facing financial barriers to obtaining healthcare. For instance, the ACA prohibited denial of coverage based on pre-existing conditions, which previously prevented many from securing insurance. However, while the ACA significantly enhanced insurance access, gaps remained, particularly regarding the actual ability to access care due to provider shortages or Medicaid expansion limitations in some states.

Current legislation continues to shape access to care through ongoing reforms and policy adjustments. Recent efforts, such as COVID-19 relief bills, included provisions to extend coverage and reduce costs, thereby lowering financial barriers temporarily. Longer-term, legislation like the American Rescue Plan Act has sought to enhance insurance affordability and expand Medicaid in states that initially opted out. These legislative efforts aim to create a more inclusive healthcare system that facilitates not just insurance coverage but also the uptake of necessary medical services.

The ultimate goal of expanding insurance coverage is to promote health equity by ensuring that all individuals can access necessary health services regardless of socioeconomic status. It aims to reduce disparities in health outcomes, prevent financial hardship caused by medical expenses, and improve overall public health. Achieving universal access entails not only broadening insurance coverage but also ensuring the healthcare infrastructure is equipped to provide timely and effective care to diverse populations.

Despite positive intentions, health reforms designed to increase coverage and access can lead to unanticipated consequences. For example, increased coverage might strain healthcare providers, leading to longer wait times and provider shortages, especially in primary care. Insurance expansion could also incentivize overutilization of services, raising healthcare costs and administrative burdens. Additionally, stakeholders such as insurers may respond by increasing premiums or restricting services, undermining the reform's goals. Policymakers must anticipate and mitigate these unintended effects to foster a sustainable healthcare system that benefits all stakeholders effectively.

References

• Blumenthal, D., & Collins, S. R. (2014). The Affordable Care Act and the Future of Health Care. N Engl J Med, 371(26), 2450–2453.
• Bachrach, D., Wang, M., & Daly, A. (2015). The Impact of Health Policy Changes on Access to Care. Health Affairs, 34(11), 1913-1920.
• Cohen, R. A., & Mikkelsen, L. (2018). The U.S. Healthcare System and Policy Reforms. Journal of Health Policy, 123(3), 223–231.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2023). Summary of the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org
• Long, M., & Kadiyala, S. (2020). Medicaid Expansion and Access to Care. American Journal of Public Health, 110(9), 1242–1248.
• Lookingbill, J. (2021). Healthcare Policy and Stakeholder Perspectives. Health Policy and Planning, 36(2), 287–294.
• Sommers, B. D., et al. (2017). Policy Impacts on Insurance Coverage and Access to Care. JAMA, 317(13), 1271-1272.
• U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (2022). Health Insurance Coverage and Access Data. Retrieved from https://www.hhs.gov
• Wilson, M., & Baker, L. (2019). Unintended Consequences of Healthcare Policy Changes. Health Affairs, 38(12), 2177–2184.
• World Health Organization. (2019). Social Determinants of Health. WHO Report. Retrieved from https://www.who.int