Review The Following Lecture: Incrementalism In Policy Makin ✓ Solved

Review the following lecture: Incrementalism in Policy Making

Review the following lecture: Incrementalism in Policy Making. Consider what you have learned about the Patient Protection and ACA, the uninsured population, health disparities, and programs and policies intended to improve quality of care and health outcomes while reducing healthcare expenditure. Summarize your thoughts on the future of healthcare given the provisions of the ACA—changes to Medicare and Medicaid, the individual mandate, etc.—and whether or not current efforts are sufficient to reduce disparities in healthcare and improve healthcare outcomes.

Tasks:

• Evaluate the impact that the ACA has and will have on the uninsured population in the U.S.
• Discuss the current successes and failures of this act.
• Discuss the implications of this act’s successes and failures.
• Explain specific policy changes that could be made to the ACA to improve its impact on overall health outcomes in the U.S.

From the Internet, review the following: U.S. Health Policy Gateway. (n.d.). ACA Impact Analysis.

Submit your response in a 4- to 6-page Microsoft Word document. On a separate page, cite all sources using APA format.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has significantly influenced the landscape of healthcare in the United States, particularly concerning access for the uninsured population, reduction of health disparities, and enhancement of overall health outcomes. This paper aims to evaluate the ACA's impact on the uninsured, identify its successes and failures, discuss the implications of these outcomes, and propose policy changes to improve its efficacy.

Impact on the Uninsured Population

One of the primary goals of the ACA was to bridge the gap for the uninsured in the U.S. By implementing measures such as the expansion of Medicaid and the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, the ACA effectively reduced the uninsured rate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the uninsured rate dropped from 16% in 2010 to approximately 9% in 2019, with millions gaining access to healthcare (U.S. Census Bureau, 2019).

However, despite these advances, significant gaps remain. Some states opted out of the Medicaid expansion, leaving many low-income individuals without coverage. Regions with high rates of uninsured individuals typically coincide with those experiencing significant health disparities, thus highlighting the act’s uneven impact (Herring et al., 2020).

Current Successes and Failures

The successes of the ACA are evident in the increased number of insured individuals and the introduction of consumer protections, such as preventing insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions (Blumenthal et al., 2020). Additionally, young adults can remain on their parents' health plans until the age of 26, which has reduced coverage gaps among younger populations (Gabel et al., 2015).

However, the ACA has not been without its failures. The initial rollout of the health insurance marketplaces was hindered by technical issues, discouraging many potential enrollees (Rosenbaum, 2018). Moreover, rising premiums and deductibles have led to concerns over affordability, particularly among those who do not qualify for subsidies (Kaiser Family Foundation, 2021). Furthermore, the political climate surrounding the ACA often results in threats of repeal or rollback of certain provisions, causing confusion and instability in the healthcare market.

Implications of Successes and Failures

The implications of the ACA's successes and failures point to a mixed future for healthcare in the U.S. The increased insurance coverage has generally improved access to care; however, the quality of care remains uneven across different populations and regions. Disparities in access to care continue to persist, particularly for minority and low-income groups (Artiga et al., 2020). Additionally, the rising costs associated with health plans may deter individuals from seeking necessary care, thus counteracting the ACA's objective of improving health outcomes.

Policy Changes to Improve Health Outcomes

To enhance the ACA's impact on health outcomes, several policy changes are vital. First, expanding Medicaid in all states would ensure that more low-income individuals receive necessary coverage (Holtz-Eakin, 2020). Secondly, increasing financial assistance for purchasing insurance on the exchanges could alleviate the burden of high premiums. Thirdly, implementing cost-control measures that address the underlying factors contributing to rising healthcare costs is essential. These could include regulating prices for prescription drugs and hospital services (Berwick & Hackbarth, 2012).

Furthermore, focusing on preventive care and community health initiatives can significantly reduce long-term healthcare expenditures and improve health outcomes. Investing in social determinants of health, such as education, housing, and nutrition, can foster healthier communities and mitigate disparities (Bach et al., 2019).

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the ACA has made substantial strides in reducing the uninsured population and improving access to healthcare, significant challenges remain that need to be addressed. The future of healthcare hinges on recognizing these failures and implementing thoughtful policy changes aimed at improving health outcomes for all Americans.

References

• Artiga, S., Orgera, K., & Damico, A. (2020). Changes in health coverage by race and ethnicity since the ACA. Kaiser Family Foundation.
• Bach, P. B., et al. (2019). Health disparities and social determinants in public health. American Journal of Public Health, 109(6), 729-734.
• Berwick, D. M., & Hackbarth, A. (2012). Eliminating waste in US health care. JAMA, 307(14), 1513-1516.
• Blumenthal, D., et al. (2020). The Affordable Care Act at 10 years: A revolution in health care. New England Journal of Medicine, 382(19), 1850-1852.
• Gabel, J. R., et al. (2015). Changes in health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act: A report from the Health Affairs Blog. Health Affairs.
• Herring, B., et al. (2020). Disparities in health care access by state of residence: an examination of the ACA's impact. Health Services Research, 55(1), 10-20.
• Holtz-Eakin, D. (2020). The case for Medicaid expansion: A policy perspective. Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research.
• Kaiser Family Foundation. (2021). Premiums for health insurance plans. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org.
• Rosenbaum, S. (2018). The Affordable Care Act and state governance: Challenges and opportunities. Health Affairs, 37(6), 910-916.
• U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). Health insurance coverage in the United States: 2019. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov.