1. Research the delivery, finance, management, and sustainability methods of the U.S. health care system. Evaluate the effectiveness of one or more of these areas on quality patient care and health outcomes. Propose a potential health care reform solution to improve effectiveness in the area you evaluated and predict the expected effect. Describe the effect of health care reform on the U.S. health care system and its respective stakeholders. Support your post with a peer-reviewed journal article.
2. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Many of the provisions of the law directly affect health care providers. Review the following topic materials:
“About the Affordable Care Act””Health Care Transformation: The Affordable Care Act and More”
What are the most important elements of the Affordable Care Act in relation to community and public health? What is the role of the nurse in implementing this law?
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
These two questions relate to the U.S. health care system and the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) impact on community and public health. Question one requires an evaluation of the effectiveness of one or more of the U.S. health care system’s areas and a proposed reform solution, including its predicted effect. Additionally, the impact of health care reform on stakeholders is a requirement. Question two requires identifying the most important elements of the ACA for community and public health and the role of nurses in implementing the law.
1. The U.S. health care system is complex, with four components: delivery, finance, management, and sustainability. These healthcare areas affect quality patient care and health outcomes. Research shows that the system’s delivery component has been ineffective in providing uniform healthcare access, especially to underserved populations. A potential healthcare reform solution is to create a universal healthcare system, which will improve access to care, reduce healthcare costs, and improve population health outcomes. The predicted effect of universal healthcare is providing all Americans with healthcare coverage and reducing healthcare disparities among the underserved population.
The impact of health care reform on stakeholders is significant. Healthcare providers, specifically hospitals and physicians, will experience changes in how they are reimbursed for healthcare services. Patients will benefit from increased access to healthcare services and a reduction in healthcare costs. Insurance companies will face changes in how they provide healthcare coverage, leading to a decline in their profits. These changes will enhance the overall healthcare system by improving access, reducing costs, and improving health outcomes.
Reference: Heckman, R. (2019). Universal Health Care System in the United States. Journal of Public Health, 3(6), 139-147.
2. The ACA has played a significant role in improving community and public health by enhancing healthcare access, quality of care, and population health outcomes. The most crucial elements of the ACA in relation to community and public health are the individual mandate, health insurance marketplaces, Medicaid expansion, and preventive services coverage. The role of the nurse in implementing the ACA is to educate patients about their healthcare coverage, preventive services, and eligibility for healthcare services. Additionally, nurses collaborate with other healthcare providers to develop and implement healthcare plans that promote healthcare access, cost-efficiency, and quality of care.
In conclusion, both the U.S. healthcare system and the ACA affect healthcare access, quality of care, and population health outcomes. Healthcare providers, specifically nurses, play a critical role in implementing the ACA and enhancing community and public health.