Introduction to Affordable Act, Essay Example

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010.  It represented a comprehensive health reform being termed legally the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act ( PL 111 -148) The law expands health care coverage,  attempts to control health care costs, and enhance health care  quality as delivered through the systems. This health care reform was introduced since in the 1990s during the Clinton administration. In the same way as how the affordable care act was termed Obamacare in the 2000 s so it was called Hillarycare in 1990s. She headed the health reform committee. In similar fashion as how the affordable  care act in 2010 met with severe opposition in the same way even democrats opposed its provisions  in 1990s of ensuring equitable distribution of  affordable health care within the nation. It died a sudden death. The affordable care act represents health policy and the process entailed in it becoming law. According to Burkhardt & Nathaniel (2013) these are very serious issues facing the society (Burkhardt & Nathaniel, 2013).

The Affordable Care Act of 2010 offers immense healthcare opportunists for United States of America citizens and legal residents. In summary they encompass the requirement that almost all U.S. citizens and legal residents purchase health insurance to pay for their care. American   American Health Benefit Exchanges under state-based initiatives be created so that people in the society could have access to afford health care.  These initiatives are expected to provide opportunities to buy insurance through cost sharing credits premium strategies (American Nurses Association, 2015).

These purchase opportunities must be made available to families as well as individuals who have an income level within the range of 133-400%, which indicates consistency with the federal poverty level. The dollar amount is $19,530 per three member family household as of 2013. Exchanges are to be created separately whereby small businesses are expected to buy coverage for the employees.  In situations where employers do not comply with the provisions they are to pay penalties. Small employers are exempted from this penalty. Besides, new regulations how insurance companies provide health plans coverage within the Exchanges with respect to individual and small group markets have been designed. Medicaid is expanded to offer coverage to 133% of the federal poverty level (American Nurses Association, 2015).

Nine titles of the Affordable Care Act

The nine titles of the affordable care act includes

Title 1: Quality Affordable Health Care for all Americans meaning a transformation of the health insurance process by which Americans obtain care. Laws debarring coverage due to preexisting conditions have been removed (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title 11: The role of public programs is expected to encompass Medicaid expansion.  States are to extend the program for accommodating persons at 133% of the Federal poverty level. Children health insurance programs are to be maintained according to CHIP until September, 2019.The enrollment process is to be simplified through website access, which includes a community first choice option. Disproportionate share hospital allotments are to be relinquished and dual eligible coverage and payment coordination established (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title 111: Improving quality and efficiency of care involves linking payment to quality outcomes in Medicare,strengthening the quality infrastructure, encouraging development of new patient care models, and ensuring beneficiary access to physician care and other services. This title also provides for rural protections, improving patient payment accuracy, facilitating Medicare Advantage Part C coverage along with improving part D prescription drug plans and sustaining the Medicare program for the elderly as well as health care quality improvement (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title 1V: Prevention of Chronic Disease and improving public health ensures that disease prevention and public health systems are modernized by increasing access clinical and disease prevention services. This is expected to create healthier communities, ultimately supporting disease prevention and public health initiative (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title V: Healthcare workforce encompasses establishing innovations in the health care service, increasing the supply of the health care workers. It also means enhancing health care workforce through education and training, supporting existing workforce, strength primary health care services and other employee improvements. Also, it requires that providers improve access to health care services (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title V1: Transparency and program integrity means demonstrating this improvement in the nursing home setting along with implications for physician transparency in practice. Targeting enforcement and improving staff training through nationwide background checks and safer employment practice care mandatory. Patient centered research and deeper knowledge of Medicare and Medicare programs by staff is a requirement. Elder care services must be enhanced (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Title V11: Improving access to innovative therapies involves providing more medicines’ for children and undeserving populations free or at an affordable price. Price competition in therapeutic services should be reduced through price control measures.

Title V111: Communities living assistance services and support encompasses creating a national voluntary insurance to cover this care.

Title 1X: Revenue provisions cover excise tax on high employer sponsored insurance (Responsible Reform, 2012).

Application to Practice

Four of the nine titles which are applicable to my practice are Titles 111,1V, V and V1.

Title 111 requires that I employ patient care models in my execution of care in improving patient outcomes. When evidence based practices are used in clinical care this requirement is fulfilled. Title 1V applies to my practice when I deliver care to a patient who has the potential to develop a chronic disease condition such as heart failure. In the clinical setting my health promotion task is patient education to prevent the condition fro progressing to chronic. Title V applies to e being an assest to the workforce submitting myself to professional improvement in being able to function at a higher level Title V1 requires me to transparent in providing care means that my organization’s protocol regarding patient’s privacy and confidentially must be upheld and information shared only. My interactions with patients must be honest and with integrity (Sorrell, 2012).

References

American Nurses Association ( 2014). Health Care Transformation: the Affordable Care Act and More. Retreived on Noveber 12 th, 2015 from http://nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/Policy-Advocacy/HealthSystemReform/AffordableCareAct.pdf

Burkhardt, M., & Nathaniel, A. (2013).  Ethics and Issues in Contemporary Nursing. Cengage Learning

Responsible Reform (2012). The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Detalied Sumary. Retrieved on November 12^th from  http://www.dpc.senate.gov/healthreformbill/healthbill04.pdf

Sorrell, J. (2012) Ethics: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Ethical Perspectives in 21st Century Health Care OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing Vol. 18 No. 1.