W3D
Discussion Question – Due Thursday 11/11/21- A reference and citation are required.
The ACA or the AHCA: Imperfect Solutions to Increasing Access to Health Care?This week’s discussion focuses on the federal government’s role in protecting the public’s health using the ACA and current efforts to “repeal and replace” the ACA. Please note that the government’s role in protecting the public’s health did not begin with the ACA. In the late 1800s, Lilian Wald brought health care to the community. And in 1965, Congress passed bills authorizing Medicare and Medicaid. Since 1965, Congress has expanded government-sponsored health care to pregnant women and children.
Discussion Question : MUST ANSWER BOTH QUESTIONS BELOW.
- Compare the current provisions in the ACA including the four ACA Plans, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze with those in the failed first version of the AHCA. Are the four plans “affordable?” If not, why?
- Share your opinions about why the AHCA failed in the first attempt at passage.
TEXTBOOK: Mason, D. J., Dickson, E. L., Perez, G. A., & McLemore, A. R. (Eds). (2020). Policy & politics in nursing and health care (8th ed.). Elsevier. ISBN: 9780323554985.
From your course textbook, Policy & Politics in Nursing and Health Care, read the following chapters:
- Advocacy in Nursing and Health Care
- Lobbying Policymakers: Individual and Collective Strategies
- The Affordable Care Act: An Uncertain Future
- Public and Population Health: Promoting the Health of the Public
- Contemporary Issues in Government
From the Internet, read the following:
- Daniels, F. B. (2017). Side by side comparison—The Affordable Care Act and the American Health Care Act. Retrieved from https://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/side-by-side-comparison-the-affordable-59415/
- Kaiser Family Foundation. (n.d.). Timeline: History of health reform in the U.S. [Blog post]. Retrieved from https://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/5-02-13-history-of-health-reform.pdf
- Lestock, J. (2017, January 13). How the congressional reconciliation process works [Web log comment]. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/blog/2017/01/13/how-the-congressional-reconciliation-process-works.aspx
- The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2017). Summary of the American Health Care Act. Retrieved from https://files.kff.org/attachment/Proposals-to-Replace-the-Affordable-Care-Act-Summary-of-the-American-Health-Care-Act
- National Council for Behavioral Health. (2017). Block grants, per capita caps would slash Medicaid, put beneficiaries at risk. Retrieved from https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Medicaid-Block-Grant-Per-Capita-Cap-Proposal-Fact-Sheet_Updated-March-2017.pdf
- Rudowitz, R., Valentine, A., Ubri, P., & Zur, J. (2017). Factors affecting states’ ability to respond to federal Medicaid cuts and caps: Which states are most at risk? Retrieved from https://files.kff.org/attachment/Issue-Brief-Factors-Affecting-States-Ability-to-Respond-to-Federal-Medicaid-Cuts-and-Caps-Which-States-Are-Most-At-Risk
- Kaiser Family Foundation. (2015).The Facts on Medicare Spending and Financing. Retrieved from https://www.kff.org/medicare/issue-brief/the-facts-on-medicare-spending-and-financing/
MUST CITE AND REFERENCE NO EXCEPTIONS! ANSWER QUESTIONS IN ITS ENTIRETY !!!
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction:
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the American Health Care Act (AHCA) are two healthcare policies that have been debated in recent years. This discussion focuses on the current provisions in the ACA and the failed first version of the AHCA. It also analyzes the affordability of the four ACA plans and explores the reasons for the AHCA’s failure.
Question 1:
The ACA and the AHCA have significant differences in their provisions. The ACA comprises four plans- Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze- that offer varying levels of coverage and premiums. The failed first version of the AHCA aimed to replace the ACA and introduced new provisions, such as eliminating the individual mandate and providing tax credits to consumers to purchase insurance. The AHCA also proposed Medicaid reforms and proposed block grants to states to fund Medicaid programs.
The four ACA plans have varying premiums and out-of-pocket costs, with the Bronze plan being the least expensive but offering the least coverage. However, the plans are not affordable for everyone, and many individuals and families struggle to pay for their premiums and out-of-pocket costs. Despite premium subsidies and cost-sharing reductions, many uninsured individuals remain unable to afford coverage.
Question 2:
The AHCA’s first attempt at passage failed due to various reasons. Firstly, many Republicans criticized the AHCA for not entirely removing the ACA and retaining some of its provisions. Secondly, the proposed Medicaid reforms and block grants were controversial and faced significant opposition. The AHCA’s proposed tax credit system for purchasing insurance was complex and difficult to understand. Thirdly, public opinion was largely against the AHCA, with many individuals expressing concerns about losing their ACA coverage.
Conclusion:
The ACA and the AHCA have contrasting features, with the ACA offering four plans that provide varying coverage levels and premiums while the failed first version of the AHCA proposed tax credits and Medicaid reforms. Although the ACA plans are not affordable for everyone, many people have benefited from the policies. The AHCA’s failure was due to criticism from Republicans, public opinion, and the complexity of its proposed changes.
