PAD 510 INTEREST GROUP PRESENTATION

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Analyzing the Policy

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Analyzing the Policy

Analyzing the Policy- Health Care Policy

Strayer University

Dr. Smith

PAD 510

February 12,2022

Summary of the Policy

When the Patient Protection and ACA were passed into law on March 23, 2010, the Supreme Court decided to review it and generally uphold it (ObamaCare.Net, 2016). Because of this legislative change, the way health care is structured, financed, and offered in the United States has altered dramatically (Brief Summary of the Affordable Care Act, 2016). The Affordable Care Act's principal objectives were:

-improving long-term cost containment in the health care sector

-Ensuring that medical bills don't force families into bankruptcy

-Prevention is the best defense against crime.

-Enhancing the quality of patient safety and care

- Assuring that everyone in the United States has access to inexpensive health insurance

-Maintaining insurance coverage after losing a job

-Ending hurdles to pre-existing condition insurance

(Auerbach, 2017).

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) covers preventative services such as blood pressure screening, vaccines; contraception; STI tests; mental health; and drug and alcohol abuse or addiction treatment. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act's strategy aimed to boost the use of precautionary and proactive health care to lessen the potential for high health care expenses in the future (Gardner, 2016). These goals were met by putting an employer mandate that necessitates US citizens to get some qualified healthcare or pay tax fines, requiring businesses to provide healthcare coverage for full-time workers within specific provisions, broadening the Healthcare system, and establishing health insurance exchanges. It is also possible for patients to receive precautionary and proactive services from their healthcare professionals at ACA regulation (Gardner, 2016).

Policy Stakeholders

Patients, doctors, employers, insurance firms, the pharmaceutical industry, and the government are primary players in the healthcare system. There are two ways health insurance firms market their policies to consumers: either directly to the individual or through an employer or government agency.

Governmental officials are those whose roles are established by law or the legislation and who, as such, have the authority to make and implement public policy (Birkland, 2016). Most public policies are created or implemented by all three government departments (legislative, judicial, and executive) (Birkland, 2016). For example, President Obama was the first official to implement the Affordable Care Act. According to the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling, Congress should be regarded as an official stakeholder in this policy. Health Minister Kathleen Sebelius can also be considered an official participant in the Affordable Care Act's preparations and implementation.

Stakeholders that have no legal power or obligation to participate in the policymaking process are known as "unofficial actors" (Birkland, 2016). Individuals who serve as "unofficial actors" frequently represent interest individuals and organizations that may be directly or indirectly impacted by a shift in policy (Birkland, 2016). For example, the following are unofficial spokespersons for the Affordable Care Act:

Special Interests Groups

· American Nurses Association (support) and the American Medical Association (support)

· The AARP (support)

· Pharmaceutical manufacturers' trade groups are the Pharmaceutical Researchers and Manufacturers of America (against). Pharmaceutical companies create and sell the drugs that doctors prescribe to their patients.

Insurance Industry Leaders

· Leaders in the Health Insurance Industry in the United States (against).

· Academic researchers

· William Dow, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley (support) (Ellis, 2017).

The healthcare system's stakeholders have a complicated relationship. Pharmacies and insurance companies, two key stakeholders, are publicly traded organizations. Stockholders' wealth is their principal objective. Although employers are focused on making money, providing health insurance for workers is a perk, not a source of revenue. The primary fiduciary responsibility of physicians is to their patients, as opposed to that of other stakeholders. The doctor-patient partnership is a sacred trust, even though they are paid for their services. Patients are entitled to certain rights, duties, and obligations. Last but not least, democratic governments have obligations and responsibilities to their citizens, but how those obligations and responsibilities are defined regarding the provision of care is a developing American story.

Now that the Affordable Care Act has been repealed, we can see many stakeholders involved. For example, while Blue Cross Blue Shield has declared their support for the repeal, the American Diabetes Association has undertaken considerable efforts to demonstrate why this repeal would do more damage than good to the American people (Cox, 2017).

The roles, function of each of the stakeholders identified, and Political Influence

Pharmaceutical companies create and sell the drugs that doctors prescribe to their patients. Patients are the beneficiaries of medical treatment, while physicians are the ones who deliver it. Insurance or government medication benefit schemes are the most common ways to compensate. Many firms provide their employees with various health insurance plans with variable deductibles and co-pays. Health care is also provided to the aged, disabled, and impoverished at a discounted rate by the federal government. Every stakeholder has tasks and duties to fulfill.

Officials have a vital role in policy development and implementation. For example, the campaign for health care reform by President Barack Obama sparked the formation of congressional caucuses that eventually led to the creation of the Affordable Care Act. This informal group, which included three Republicans and three Democrats, was formed after the Affordable Care Act was passed by the House of Representatives. This group was eventually referred to as the "Gang of Six" based on the Clinton administration's failed attempt at healthcare reform; the "Gang of Six" began conversations about reform. After Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell warned that their futures would be in jeopardy if they opted to negotiate with the Democrats, the backing of members from the "Gang of Six" dissipated. All 60 Democratic senators voted in favor of the Affordable Care Act, but none Republican senators did the same.

Neither the House nor the Senate may vote on a policy written by non-official actors. The discussions over healthcare legislation and the Affordable Care Act were not without pharmaceutical firms, doctors, and other members of the medical profession. These groups included AARP, Affordable Healthcare for America Now, SEIU, Households USA, Clinicians for America, NRHA, Center for Economic and Policy Research, and other organizations representing people with disabilities. These groups played a critical role in promoting public support for the ACA and promoting public endorsement of the law.

References

Auerbach, M. P. (2017). The Health Care Reform Act of 2010. Health Care Reform Act Of 2010 - Research Starters Business, 1-6.

Birkland, T.A. (2016). An Introduction to the Policy Process, 4th Edition. [Strayer University Bookshelf]. Retrieved from https://strayer.vitalsource.com/#/books/9781317509790/

Brief Summary of the Affordable Care Act. (2016). Congressional Digest, 95(3), 3.

Cox, K. (2017). Key Players Give Their Opinions- For And Against- On GOP’s Obamacare Replacement. Consumerist. Retrieved from https://consumerist.com/2017/03/07/keyplayers-give-their-opinions-for-and-against-on-gops-obamacare-replacement/

Gardner, D. B. (2016). Health Policy and Politics. Election 2016: Where Are We with the Affordable Care Act?. Nursing Economic$, 34(5), 251-254