Overview In Module Four: Recent Topics

Overview in Module Four You Will Examine Some Of The Recent Initiative

Explain three existing healthcare initiatives that were put in place to address the gap in access that you identified in Milestone One. Explain the specific goals of each initiative in place to address this gap in access.

Paper For Above instruction

The healthcare system continuously evolves through various initiatives aimed at improving access, quality, and equity. Identifying and understanding these initiatives is critical to addressing specific access gaps within populations. In this paper, three prominent healthcare initiatives are examined, each designed to mitigate disparities and enhance accessibility, with a focus on their specific objectives in closing access gaps.

The first initiative is the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which aimed to increase health insurance coverage among low-income populations. The primary goal was to reduce the number of uninsured individuals, thereby improving access to necessary healthcare services. Prior to the ACA, many low-income individuals faced barriers to healthcare due to cost and lack of insurance, leading to poorer health outcomes. The expansion of Medicaid aimed to address these issues by extending coverage to individuals earning up to 138% of the federal poverty level, aiming to fill the access gap for vulnerable populations (Sommers et al., 2015). By providing Medicaid coverage to a broader income bracket, the initiative sought to reduce disparities in healthcare access and promote preventive care, ultimately improving health outcomes and reducing emergency room visits for conditions that could be managed earlier.

The second initiative is the Community Health Center Program, administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This program aims to expand access to comprehensive primary care for underserved populations regardless of their ability to pay. The specific goal is to establish and operate health centers in areas with high concentrations of vulnerable populations, including rural and economically disadvantaged communities. These centers provide services such as preventive care, chronic disease management, and dental and mental health services, often on a sliding fee scale (Nardi et al., 2014). By increasing the availability of accessible primary care, this initiative addresses geographic and economic barriers that restrict access to essential health services, thereby reducing health disparities among marginalized populations.

The third initiative is the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) model promoted by the CDC, which focuses on improving access to health services within educational settings. The goal of this initiative is to address health disparities among children and adolescents by integrating health and education efforts to promote overall wellbeing. Schools serve as a crucial access point for preventive health services, immunizations, mental health support, and screenings. The WSCC model emphasizes collaboration among education, health, and community partners to create healthier school environments and ensure students' holistic health needs are met, which directly impacts their ability to learn and succeed academically (CDC, 2014). This initiative aims to eliminate barriers to health services in school settings and foster healthier behaviors, contributing to improved long-term health outcomes for vulnerable youth.

In conclusion, these three initiatives demonstrate targeted strategies to close specific access gaps in healthcare for vulnerable and underserved populations. The Medicaid expansion enhances insurance coverage for low-income adults, the Community Health Center Program increases geographically accessible primary care services, and the WSCC model improves health access within educational environments for children and adolescents. Understanding these initiatives provides insights into effective approaches that address disparities in healthcare access and pave the way for more equitable health outcomes across diverse populations.

References

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2014). The Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/wscc/index.htm
• Nardi, J., Kaprielian, C., & Cohen, S. (2014). The role of community health centers in improving healthcare access and reducing disparities. American Journal of Public Health, 104(7), 1211-1214.
• Sommers, B. D., Gunja, M. Z., Finegold, K., & Abadie, D. (2015). Changes in self-reported insurance coverage, access to care, and health under the Affordable Care Act. JAMA, 314(4), 366–374.