Affordable Health Care Act
Article 1: United States Health Care Reform Progress to Date and Next Steps
Affordable care act (ACA) is an essential health care legislation enacted in American since the development of Medicaid and Medicare in the mid-20th century (Obama, 2016). The law has created comprehensive and highly inclusive reforms with the intentions to enhance the affordability, accessibility and health care quality. The ACA has led to highly essential progress in regard to solving the long-run challenges that are faced by that American healthcare system in regard to cost, quality, expediency, and convenience (Obama, 2016). Since the implementation of the law seven years ago the general rate of the uninsured persons has decreased by over 43 percent which equates to close to less than 16 percent based on a survey conducted in 2015 (Obama, 2016). In addition, it has been highly documented on the associated improvements in regard to health services access. For instance, the number of aging persons that would not previously afford quality care has lowered significantly.
ACA has, in turn, led to the reduction of debt and enhanced financial security within the healthcare sector (Obama, 2016). Most individuals were initially owing to the insurance companies much as the expenses were particularly high but ACA has reduced the burden. The law has already started the general procedure of transforming the health sector’s payment modes with a projection of 30 percent of the conventional payment now being made via more digitalized payments mode such as pushed payment (Obama, 2016). It is such reforms and all the other related ones that have led to the continued gradual growth in regard to the spending and services improvements in the healthcare sector in general and has also resulted in quality, convenience, and affordability. However, despite the achievements that have been achieved there are still some main chances that can even improve the system further (Obama, 2016).
The article concluded that policymakers should mainly develop the progress that has been achieved so far by ACA by investing on continuous implementation insurance cover and services delivery reform which will, in turn, heighten financial support for the public (Obama, 2016). In addition, this can be utilized in the initiation of plan based alternatives in areas that lack competition and also focus on implementing initiatives that will lead to reduced medicines expenses (Obama, 2016). Despite the fact that the existing opposition from the special interest and political sectors are still prevalent the experience reforms that have been acquired so far shows that positive transformation can be obtained in regard to a number of the country’s most pressing challenges (Obama, 2016). The high expenses incorporated in the healthcare sector affects economic development and family monetary wellness. ACA is considered to be the enabling force for better performance in school and inspires adults to focus more on their productive activities and extensive lives. Based on the increasing health expenses in the last few decades it is apparent that health reform that was generated by ACA was needed and should be improved for better outcomes.
Article 2: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
According to Rosenbaum (2011), ACA is a crisis in the American health policy today. The law was implemented after a series of implementations. The act is essential since it has included the basic rights of every consumer and the health services providers. Some of these legal protections have been missing in decades despite the existence of some governing policies. ACA as a universal policy offers assurance in regard to accessing affordable healthcare insurance cover right from the moment that a child has been born up to retirement. This does not imply that the aging populace has not been considered. Previously of these individuals would rarely afford or access quality services a trend that is gradually varnishing. When the law has been completely implemented it will result in cutting close to 70 percent of the uninsured populace (Rosenbaum, 2011). In that, it is anticipated that in the next 10 or so years the law will lead to high health coverage of close to 94 percent of the United States population which will have lowered the uninsured populace by more than 31 million persons (Rosenbaum, 2011). This will, in turn, lead to an increase in Medicaid admission by about 15 percent. However, despite the reforms that the law seeks to create it is projected that close to 24 million persons will still exist without any cover (Rosenbaum, 2011).
In this context, there is a need to focus mainly on the increased progress of the law to ensure that all the limitations are overcome (Rosenbaum, 2011). Through a number of policies that generates premium, cost-effective subsidies and the establishment of health affordable covers particularly for those that exist lawfully in America. Despite the strengths of this law that has thus resulted in minimum spending by families it is characterized by a major flaw because it does not incorporate minimum or affordable payments by employers similar to Medicare. This implies that as families spend less the economy is still being affected since the employers are forced to invest more on insurances for their workers (Rosenbaum, 2011). In this context, most employers prefer to operate with fewer employees to minimize the expenses. In other words, ACA is a representation of the consistent efforts to reframe the general financial association amid Americans and the healthcare system in order to support and end the existing crisis that is affecting the economy in general. The law should, therefore, secure the achieved benefits and focus on freeing those that are still not covered and those that have not been favored such as employers in the quest for improving and expanding healthcare and the economy in general (Rosenbaum, 2011).
Article 3: The Affordable Care Act, Five Years Later
ACA which is widely known as Obama-care is currently the most complex and comprehensive improvement that has ever been implemented in regard to the US health system. The law has so far survived despite the foretold tests, uncertainties and oppositions (Reisman, 2015). However, without politicizing the issue it has widely been cited that the law has failed to meet the set objectives and intentions (Reisman, 2015). Since the primary intention of ACA was mainly based on raising health care access, expediency, quality, and affordability the prospects have so far been beaten. As far as the law has been in operation it has performed quite well and its achievements can never be opposed. Based on a survey conducted recently it has been established that close to 17 million more individuals who were initially uninsured have been admitted within the system (Reisman, 2015). With a drop of more than just 6 percent in each year, it is apparent that the law is operating well (Reisman, 2015).
The anticipations of most people and oppositions were that the law was unrealistic and it would drain the economy by supporting the high population (Reisman, 2015). It has however been altered given that the economy has not yet been affected and the number of people seeking for cover is raising daily. The law, unlike the other Acts that have existed before choose to prioritize the health of American populace rather than financial resources. Families were increasing suffering for spending more on health. It is worth establishing that the wellness of the economy can never be accomplished without human wellness. The law has, therefore, exceed the general expectations of most even for those that set it. However, it does not imply that the achieved reforms are failing since there is a need to sustain them and search for higher ones. The Act needs to be improved in general in order to fit into the general needs of the public and that of the health sector (Reisman, 2015).
ACA has increasingly lowered the general expenses and inefficiencies related to payment and services in the healthcare sector. In addition to increasing the number of the insured person from the national sector quality and affordability are the primary values that the law has achieved so far (Reisman, 2015). However, in order for the law to consistently lead to higher reforms more aspects should be considered including that of the economic welfare as more and more persons are being insured. Quality is not a onetime thing since the aspects in its regard changes consistently and thus, the systems should be adjusted based on this needs. The law has led to the development of infrastructure within the system and opened, even more, channels for innovation and expansion of the system (Reisman, 2015). The law is primarily based on care, expenses reduce and improving health by offering quality as well as affordable care to the general public which has resulted in efficiency.
References
Obama, B. (2016). United States Health Care Reform Progress to Date and Next Steps. Jama, 316(5), 525–532. http://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.9797
Reisman, M. (2015). The Affordable Care Act, Five Years Later: Policies, Progress, and Politics. Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 40(9), 575–600.
Rosenbaum, S. (2011). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice. Public Health Reports, 126(1), 130–135.
