Assignment Task:
You should respond to both discussions separately--with constructive literature material- extending, refuting/correcting, or adding additional nuance to their posts.
Minimum 150 words each reply with references under each reply.
Incorporate a minimum of 2 current (published within the last five years) scholarly journal articles or primary legal sources (statutes, court opinions) within your work. Journal articles should be referenced according to the current APA style (the online library has an abbreviated version of the APA Manual).
Discussion 1:
Components of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and Their Positive Effect on Health Care Outcomes and Cost Reduction. Need Assignment Help?
The health care reform has been a controversial discussion for a few years, with its main goals being, to improve patient access to health care while lowering costs. An initiative to the healthcare reform is the ACA which began in 2010 and continues to develop today (Neiman et al., 2021). Despite being frequently thought as a single policy, the Affordable Care Act is a collection of several laws that collaborate to achieve various objectives. Its primary means of making health care more accessible was through the expansion of public and private health insurance coverage (Neiman et al., 2021); these key elements which include, Medicaid expansions, subsidized Marketplace coverage, and individual mandates, went into effect in 2014 (Courtemanche et al., 2018). I believe that this aspect of the law may enhance patient outcomes by allowing more individuals to obtain health coverage at a more affordable rate in relation to their income.
Additionally, the ACA intertwines hospitals, health care providers, and physician income to the caliber of care they deliver, in order to raise standards. This is done by providing incentives for providers and organizations when care is delivered efficiently, and it is of quality. Incentives include different bonuses whether financial or occupational based (Moy et al., 2023). This can also be accomplished by implementing strategies such as the Bundled Payment Care Initiative (BPCI) and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) whose aim it to reduce unnecessary and costly services (Moy et al., 2023). Hospitals and physicians must meet standards that emphasize disease prevention, clsely manage patients with chronic illnesses, and maintaining patient health (Moy et al., 2023). This is beneficial for the patient's as well, by making their care more cost friendly while receiving the best care possible for optimal outcomes.
Lastly, the ACA encourages preventative care, which can further reduce long-term healthcare costs. With these reforms, patients are more likely to receive timely care, preventing the escalation of health issues that can lead to expensive emergency interventions. Preventative care is offered by the ACA without additional costs such as copays and deductibles. This measures improves quality of life by reducing the risk of chronic illness and a reduced cost not only to healthcare, but also to patients (CMS.gov, n.d.).
Discussion 2:
The Affordable Care Act and Health Care Outcomes and Costs
The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced numerous provisions that have aided and strengthened healthcare results and reduced spending. The most significant effects on the United States healthcare system have been the expansion of Medicaid coverage, the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, and the emphasis on preventive care. Collectively, they assist in ensuring better access to care, better health outcomes, and cost savings.
One of the most successful ACA provisions was the Medicaid expansion. The ACA provided for states to expand coverage to Medicaid-eligible individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Research has demonstrated that Medicaid expansion has led to greater insurance coverage and improved health status in low-income populations. Levine et al. (2022) report that states that expanded Medicaid eligibility perceived reduced mortality, better chronic disease management, and greater availability of primary health care services. Moreover, Medicaid expansion has led to cost savings via the reduction of hospital expenses associated with uncompensated care (Levine et al., 2022). Since more individuals are covered, hospitals have had fewer financial losses due to treating individuals with no coverage who are unable to pay.
The second major provision of the ACA was establishing health insurance markets in which persons are able to shop and purchase insured plans with subsidies. The markets have made persons who are below the Medicaid eligibility limit but who are required to be supported financially in a position to purchase health insurance. Mellor et al. (2023) presented evidence that subsidies provided under ACA markets increased insurance coverage, as well as improved access to major health care. Additionally, by having insurance companies compete with each other, the markets helped contain premium increases, keeping all costs of the overall healthcare system in balance (Mellor et al., 2023).
Preventive care services mandated by ACA are instrumental in enhancing health outcomes and reducing expenses. The ACA compels health providers to provide preventive services such as vaccination, cancer screening, and check-ups without billing the patients directly. With early prevention and diagnosis, these policies correlate with reduced occurrences of long-term illnesses as well as healthcare expenditure on them. Ercia et al. (2021) add that increased availability of preventive care has helped with the achievement of early intervention and diagnosis, making patients not experience huge amounts associated with emergency care as well as hospital admission. The revolution of a reactive into a proactive health system, besides improving patient health, alleviates health schemes from financial burden too.
Furthermore, ACA has levied value-based models of care such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), in which providers work with greater concentration towards the supply of quality care services instead of quantity. Such models compel providers to shift their focus to the delivery of better care, more integrated services, avoiding unnecessary services, and the establishment of meaningful patient performance measures. Ercia et al. (2021) argue that value-based payment models have ensured improved care and less expenditure, thus accruing benefits for both patients and providers.
In conclusion, the ACA has enhanced health care outcomes and contained expenses by increasing Medicaid, insurance markets, preventive services mandates, and value-based medical systems. Together, they have enhanced the treatment availability framework, healthier patients, and sustainable fiscal health care system.