Massachusetts Health Care Reform, Coursework Example

Introduction

Health reform in the United States and insurance exchanges represent a different set of challenges for organizations because they require consumers and businesses to become accustomed to change within their current business practices. This is a difficult task to achieve and requires new ideas and approaches to healthcare reform in order to accept the changes that are taking place. The experiences of Massachusetts healthcare reform in recent years indicate that coverage better known as Commonwealth Care is a turning point in insurance reform and expanded the amount of covered persons to an even higher level (Smith, 2009). This serves as a reminder of the need for healthcare reform on a national scale that is acceptable to the masses.

Analysis

Healthcare reform possesses many nuances that require further consideration, such as the potential improvements in primary care, including patient-centered medical homes and other concepts (The Commonwealth Fund, 2011). In this context, it is observed that organizations must be able to accept new ideas and to consider how their current strategies may no longer work in a nation where health reform is of primary concern and focus (The Commonwealth Fund, 2011). With the emergence of the Affordable Care Act in recent years, health insurance exchanges also reflect the expanded options available to consumers and how the choice of insurance may impact overall health and wellbeing (The Commonwealth Fund, 2012). Many organizations continue to expand their options for consumers to improve outcomes and shift the direction of healthcare access towards a more positive strategy (Feyman, 2014).

Conclusion

Healthcare reform in the United States continues to grow and thrive under a variety of conditions. This phenomenon has enabled many people to obtain insurance who otherwise might not have had the opportunity. Therefore, it is important to identify some of  the advantages as well as the risks associated with this practice and how they directly impact the lives of millions of Americans.

References

Buerhaus, P.I. (2009). Massachusetts health care reform: lessons for the nation? An Interview with Thomas Smith, MS, RN, NEA-BC. Nursing Economics, 27(3), 194-196.

The Commonwealth Fund (2011). Safety Net Medical Home Initiative: transforming primary care. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/interactives-and-data/multimedia/videos/2011/safety-net-medical-home-initiative

The Commonwealth Fund (2012). Understanding the health insurance exchanges: one-stop shopping for affordable coverage. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/interactives-and-data/multimedia/podcasts/new-directions-in-health-care/understanding-the-health-insurance-exchanges omnicid=rssnewdir&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NewDirectionsInHealthCare+%28New+Directions+in+Health+Care%29&utm_content=FeedBurner

Feyman, Y. (2014). Health care reform 2.0: in search of credible alternatives. Retrieved from http://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2014/08/15/health-care-reform-2-0-in-search-of-credible-alternatives/