This assignment reinforces information in your textbook and learning objectives in this unit. It is recommended that you work through this assignment as you complete your reading assignment. Each question is worth 20 points. You will be graded on the accuracy and thoroughness of your responses.
Questions
- How has Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) impacted healthcare organizations and patients?
- What was the intent of the passage of Medicaid?
- What was the intent of the passage of Medicare?
- The ACA has 4 broad headings: providing new consumer protection; improving quality and lowering costs; increasing access to affordable care; and holding insurance companies accountable. Identify two provisions under each category. How does each provision contribute to the meeting the intent of its broader category? (One paragraph per provision is an appropriate length.)
- Innovative long-term care services that meet the diverse medical needs, personal desires, and lifestyle choices of older Americans have made important strides over the years. What are two of these innovations? How have these innovations impacted the healthcare industry? Discuss policy and societal changes that led to each innovation. (One paragraph per innovation in an appropriate length).
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
This assignment is designed to test your knowledge and understanding of various aspects of healthcare, including health insurance, Medicaid, Medicare, and long-term care services. You will be graded based on the accuracy and thoroughness of your responses. Each question is worth 20 points.
Answers:
1. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) was enacted to protect the privacy and security of patients’ confidential health information. It has had a significant impact on healthcare organizations by forcing them to implement policies and procedures to safeguard patient data. Patients have also been impacted by HIPAA as it gives them more control over their health information and ensures that their data is not used or disclosed without their consent.
2. The intent of the passage of Medicaid was to provide health insurance coverage to low-income individuals and families. Medicaid helps to ensure that those who cannot afford healthcare are still able to access necessary medical services.
3. The intent of the passage of Medicare was to provide health insurance coverage to older adults (aged 65 and above) and those with disabilities. This program helps to ensure that older adults and those with disabilities are able to access necessary medical services and receive the care they need.
4.
– Providing new consumer protection:
1) Prohibiting Insurance Companies from Denying Coverage Based on Pre-Existing Conditions: This provision ensures that individuals with pre-existing conditions are able to access health insurance coverage, which is important for their overall health and well-being.
2) Limiting Annual Out-of-Pocket Spending: This provision helps to protect consumers from high medical costs by limiting the amount they have to pay out-of-pocket for medical care.
– Improving quality and lowering costs:
1) Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs): ACOs are designed to improve the coordination of care and reduce healthcare costs by encouraging healthcare providers to work together to better manage patient care.
2) Bundled Payments: This provision encourages healthcare providers to work together to provide coordinated care to patients, which can help to improve the quality of care while also reducing costs.
– Increasing access to affordable care:
1) Medicaid Expansion: This provision makes it easier for low-income individuals and families to access affordable healthcare by expanding Medicaid eligibility.
2) Health Insurance Marketplaces: The creation of health insurance marketplaces provides individuals and families with a more affordable way to access healthcare coverage.
– Holding insurance companies accountable:
1) Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) Requirements: These requirements ensure that insurance companies spend a certain percentage of premium dollars on providing medical care to their customers.
2) Rate Review: This provision requires insurance companies to justify any proposed rate increases, which helps to ensure that premium rates remain affordable for consumers.
5. Two innovations in long-term care services that meet the diverse medical needs, personal desires, and lifestyle choices of older Americans are telemedicine and assisted living facilities. Telemedicine allows older adults to access medical care remotely, which can be particularly important for those who live in rural areas or have mobility issues. Assisted living facilities offer seniors a range of services and amenities in a homelike setting, which can help to ensure that they are able to maintain their independence and quality of life as they age. Policy and societal changes that have led to telemedicine include advancements in technology and improvements in internet connectivity. Policy and societal changes that have led to assisted living facilities include a growing recognition of the importance of elder care and a shift away from traditional nursing homes. These innovations have impacted the healthcare industry by providing older adults with more options for care and allowing them to receive care in the setting that best meets their needs.
