America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, Research Paper Example

Abstract

The objective of this work in writing is to select a current healthcare bill that addresses one of the four components of healthcare and to write an essay on its impact on health services in the community. Integrative healthcare is vital and critical to the success of H.R.3200 – America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and this work in writing will demonstrate that fact. HR3200 – America’s Affordable Health Care Act is a hotly debated issue at present and it is yet to be seen exactly what version of this Act will result after it is been modified. The one certain fact concerning healthcare provision in the U.S. is that there are presently far too many individuals who are not covered by any type of health insurance and who are foregoing health care and preventive care and sadly, far too many of these individuals are children.

H.R. 3200 – America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009

The objective of this work in writing is to select a current healthcare bill that addresses one of the four components of healthcare and to write an essay on its impact on health services in the community. Integrative healthcare is vital and critical to the success of H.R.3200 – America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 and this work in writing will demonstrate that fact.

Identification and Summary of Healthcare Addressed in the Bill

HR3200 is a complete revamping of the nation’s healthcare system and is an initiative that is requiring all players to work in unison in order to deliver the healthcare in the most efficient, effective, and with the least possible expense to all concerned in the health care delivery process. This bill will effectively streamline processes in health care delivery through synthesizing the processes and making the best use of the available resources in achieving this delivery of care. There are four functional components of health care delivery including: (1) financing; (2) insurance; (3) delivery; and (4) payment. (Shi and Singh, 2008,, 6) The component that will be at focus in this work in writing is that of healthcare delivery. In 2009 HR.3200 America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 was formulated in an attempt on the part of the government to attempt to solve many of the issues in health care that are addressed in the wording of this bill and specifically those who are not covered by any type of health insurance.

Description of the healthcare bill and the reason the bill is necessary

HR 3200 –America’s Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 is focused on making the provision of affordable health care insurance for all Americans. This bill was necessary due to the vast population of individuals in the United States who presently are not covered under any health insurance policy whatsoever including a large population of children and senior adults. Access to health care services is determined by four main factors including those as follows: (1) the ability to pay; (2) the availability of services; (3) payment; and (4) barriers to enablement. (Burns, nd) Healthcare financing and insurance mechanisms are those of the : (1) private or employer or privately purchased health insurance; and (2) public or Medicare and Medicaid sectors. (Burns, nd) Elements that contribute to the number of uninsured individuals in the United States are those of: (1) unemployment; (2) lack of a requirement for employers to make provision of insurance; (2) lack of a requirement of employees to make a purchase of health insurance when it is available; and (2) lack of eligibility for government and other funded programs. (Burns, nd )

The U.S. healthcare system is characterized by the lack of a central agency and universal access as well as the health care of the U.S. being “an imperfect market” having the presence of third-party insurers and multiple payers. What is meant by ‘an imperfect market’ is that the health care market is characterized by: (1) item pricing in which services cannot be determined prior to the procedure; (2) package pricing in which fees are bundled for a group of related services; (3) capitation in which all health care services include one set fee per person. (Burns, nd)

As well the U.S. healthcare system is characterized by such practices of ordering medical testing, procedures and consultations that are of questionable clinical value due to the need to protect the physician from being sued for malpractice. (Burns, nd , paraphrased) Other identified characteristics of the healthcare system in the United States are the following:

• Duplication;
• Overlap;
• Inadequacy;
• Inconsistency;
• Waste
• Complexity
• Inefficiency;
• Financial manipulation; and
• (Burns, nd)

HR 3200 includes provisions for requiring that individuals maintain health insurance and employers provide health insurance. Also included are several market reforms that include guaranteed issue and renewal. (Chaikind, Fernandez, Peterson, and Morgan, 2009) Essential benefits covered would include hospitalization, outpatient hospital and clinic services including ER services, physician and other health professional services, prescription medication; rehabilitative services, mental health and substance use disorder services, preventive services, maternity care, well baby and well child care including early and period screening, diagnostic and treatment services and other services related to medical equipment provision. (Chaikind, Fernandez, Peterson, and Morgan, 2009)

Identification of Proponents and Opponents of the Bill – Reasons for Position

H.R. 3200 – American’s Affordable Healthcare Act is supported by some and opposed by other groups and individuals. Republicans are notably against a federally run healthcare insurance program while Democrats are actively supporting the federally run healthcare insurance program. On September 23, it is reported that ALG President Bill Wilson had “called upon Senate Republicans to ‘shut down the Senate’ should Senate Majority leader Harry Reid invoke reconciliation to ‘muscle ObamaCare through the Senate in direct defiance of the will of the people.” (Alabama News Platoon, 2010) Wilson is reported to have called the warning stated by Reid to be “a thuggish threat’ stating that “it would result in ‘one-party rule’ over what is supposed to be the ‘most deliberative body in the world’.” (Alabama News Platoon, 2010) As well it is reported that a debate was ensuing in Montgomery, Alabama, and one in which Veterans are taking part arguing that there is already a government-run system in the United States and specifically “It’s called the VA, and it’s a disaster.” (Alabama News Platoon, 2010) According to the report “The federal government has a woeful track record in delving into healthcare.” (Alabama News Platoon, 2010)

Explanation of How the Bill Helps or Hinders Health Services to the Community

If HR 3200 is properly implemented health services to the community will be streamlined in a ‘systems’ process which effectively delivers healthcare services to many Americans who are now lacking any type of healthcare insurance and who are foregoing medical care and preventive healthcare services.

Description of Impacts on Healthcare and Allied Professionals

The impacts on healthcare and allied professionals, if HR3200 is properly implemented should be major in terms of their patient-load in that integrative service delivery should relieve some of the patient-load on these providers and as well should be minimal in terms of the impact upon their income due to healthcare service insurance program payer provisions.

Summary & Conclusion

HR3200 – America’s Affordable Health Care Act is a hotly debated issue at present and it is yet to be seen exactly what version of this Act will result after it is been modified. The one certain fact concerning healthcare provision in the U.S. is that there are presently far too many individuals who are not covered by any type of health insurance and who are foregoing health care and preventive care and sadly, far too many of these individuals are children.

References

Burns, J. (nd) Health Care USA, Chapter One. York College CUNY. Retrieved from: http://www.york.cuny.edu/~jburns/newer/HE319-Chapter%201.ppt.

Chaikind, H., Fernandez, B., Peterson, C.L., and Morgan, P.C. (2009) Private Health Insurance Provisions of H.R. 3200. Congressional Research Service. 23 Sept 2009. CRS Report for Congress. Retrieved from: http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/127386.pdf

H.R. 3200 (2009) 111^th Congress 1^st Session.14 July 2009. Retrieved from: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:h3200ih.txt.pdf

Reid Threaten Reconciliation, State-Controlled Media Sleeps Through Revolution (2009) Alabama News Platoon. 23 Sept. 2009. Retrieved from: http://alabama.newsplatoon.com/tag/hr-3200/

Shi, L. and Singh. D.A. (2008) Delivering Health Care in America: A Systems Approach. Jones & Bartlett Learning. 2008. Retrieved from: http://books.google.com/books?id=UDWZpSUR1aMC&dq=healthcare:+four+components&source=gbs_navlinks_s