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Federal Policy

Trisha Polite

PAD 510

04/22/2018

Introduction

Healthcare policy is one of the perfect examples of similar federal policies that were adopted by President Bill Clinton administration and president Barack Obama’s administration. Both the two presidents adopted this policy during their first tenures in office. President Clinton adopted this policy in 1993 while Obama adopted this policy in 2010.This policy basically revolves around creation and implementation of several legislative laws geared towards managing the American healthcare industry. (Gulliford & Morgan, 2013)

Discuss the historical perspective of the time when the policy was discussed or implemented. Indicate the context or the problem of the day and the urgency for the policy.

Both presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama administrations adopted the healthcare policies at a time when the American healthcare industries was facing a lot of challenges that majorly revolved around management, healthcare quality and cost. The two different administrations yearned for a situation whereby all the American citizens irrespective of their economic background would both acquire healthcare services without at subsidized costs.

The healthcare policies were also adopted at a time when the insurance policies in the United States of America were still rigid. For instance employees were only insured of certain specific healthcare services despite their contribution towards the support of such insurance company. President Bill Clinton objectives in promoting the universal healthcare somehow hit a snag since his reforms were controversial in nature drawing a lot of litigation.

During the two administrations, Patients were also subjected to poor services. There was also a challenge on the medical personnel towards patients that prompted the healthcare reforms to also address patients privacy and confidentiality legislative laws. (Shi & Singh, 2014)

President Obama seemed to have learned from Clintons mistake and when he signed the affordable care act in 2010.His main objective was to eradicate majority of the problems that had still taken toll of the healthcare system that ranged from some of the top most countries referral hospitals to the small healthcare facilities. (Shi & Singh, 2014)

Analyze the social, economic, and political environments for the times the policy was discussed or implemented.

The healthcare policy adoption between the two administrations was implemented at a time when political system in the United States of America was tensed. For instance, Bill Clinton received a lot of opposition reactions especially from the conservatives, healthcare insurance industry and the liber tans. President Obama on the other hand was also not spared by the opposition politicians especially from the republicans’ party who argued that such legislation was a controversy as they felt it would just make healthcare more expensive.

The healthcare policy was adopted at a time when the Americas national economy was in a good shape due to good labor force policies that existed. Employment rate among the Americans was relatively appealing which was then critical in shaping the good economy of the country during such time. The two administration hence felt in order achieve steady economic growth, it was better to utilize employees funding through support of healthcare. (Baker, Bloom,& Davis,2016)

The healthcare policy majorly affected the social being of the citizens of the United States of America. The policies were implemented at a time when healthcare facilities were majorly under the mandate of private HealthCare businesses. The policies were also a adopted at a time when several diseases such as HIV/AIDS, cancer and heart related complications were major challenges towards the welfare of the citizens of USA. It was also a time when the social welfare of the old was not considered and most of them suffered after retirement.

Critique the policy for its effectiveness of the time.

The healthcare policy adopted by the two administrations has proved to be a milestone in the healthcare industry in an overwhelming manner. The following are some of the evidences that prove the effectiveness of these policies.

The policy has proved to be effective due to the high number of Americans who have been insured today. According to Tetuan et al, (2014), the Obama’s healthcare policy prompted about 16 million people to access healthcare insurance and the major beneficiaries are young adults and also the older Americans.

The healthcare policy has been universal in providing healthcare services due to the absence of insurance limits. Those who had subscribed to the insurance in the healthcare policies were able to get the insurances services at the hospitals up to a tune they need them. The insurance companies have not had a retained limit that is meant for healthcare spending limit.

Healthcare policy also proved to be effective in that there has been low cost on prescription of drugs. Former cases in the healthcare sector provided that insurance companies majorly covered services that were meant for treatment services. Current effect has been that, even drugs that patients’ needs are provided under the insurance package. (McGinnis et al, 2013)

The adoption of this policy by both the administrations has been effective in that they slowed the rising costs of healthcare. There is no provision that require one to pay first for their services one insured. It’s the insurance companies that have spent at the expenses of insured.

References

Baker, S. R., Bloom, N., & Davis, S. J. (2016). Measuring economic policy uncertainty. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 131(4), 1593-1636.

Gulliford, M., & Morgan, M. (Eds.). (2013). Access to health care. Routledge.

McGinnis, J. M., Stuckhardt, L., Saunders, R., & Smith, M. (Eds.). (2013). Best care at lower cost: the path to continuously learning health care in America. National Academies Press.

Shi, L., & Singh, D. A. (2014). Delivering health care in America. Jones & Bartlett Learning

Tetuan, T. M., Ohm, R., Herynk, M. H., Ebberts, M., Wendling, T., & Mosier, M. C. (2014). The Affordable Health Care Act annual wellness visits: the effectiveness of a nurse-run clinic in promoting adherence to mammogram and colonoscopy recommendations. Journal of Nursing Administration, 44(5), 270-275.