HLTH - 556 DB 5 - Urgently Required. 12-16 Hours. Need A + Work

    One can clearly see many similarities between the Clinton Healthcare legislation and the Obama Healthcare legislation Why is it that Obama’s Affordable Care Act was successful verses  the Clinton attempt to restructure healthcare.     One theory of why the Clinton administration attempt to restructure healthcare failed is that of accusations of secret meetings and competing proposals (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). These factors were contributed by not those opposed to the Clinton administration in fact it can be traced back to both individuals and groups that supported the administration (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). In fact the task force that was devised to work on what seemed to be poised for success during Clintons first term was reported in a Washing Post article in a negative light (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). Due to the article and public perception a judge ordered the task force meeting to be made public. Once recommendations were developed the task force disbanded.

            Upon development of a proposal known as the Clinton Health Security (CHS); initially significant support was expressed even though some confusion was noted by the public. By October 1993 support dropped plummeting approval ratings to 59% (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). Organizations such as the American Medical Association (AMA) changed their approval of the new healthcare legislation from pressure by Health Insurance Association of America and National Federation of Independent Business.  The AMA turned their support to another plan that was actively competing (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). During the time of the CHS proposal there were more than twenty other plans proposed and competing. Other proposals included single-payer bill, which was proposed by the House Democrats, an individual mandate Republican plan, amongst several others (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015).

            Although many similarities can be noted between the CHS proposal and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the former was passed whereas the latter was not. Some of the similarities include individual and employer mandates, retention of health insurance regardless of pre-existing conditions, and the vast support for health saving account utilization (McLaughlin & McLaughlin, 2015). So one must attempt to explain why the CHS failed and the ACA was successful. One area that the two plans differentiated was the ability for the reform to control costs associated with the change.  The CHS required that all individuals under the age of 65 obtain insurance from state exchanges. Limits were also placed on premiums. The ACA did not place limits on premiums and rather than people be made to obtain insurances from state exchanges, the exchanges were created for individuals not on a state level. The success of the ACA can be directly correlated to the unification of the Democratic Party during the Obama administration.

            All in all several factors were involved when investigation of why the healthcare reform was successful for Obama and not for Clinton. Regardless healthcare reform will always meet opposition and support as it is a major topic of discussion for all involved. Individuals as well as organizations, healthcare institutions, and businesses all have the perfect plan in their eyes. Somewhere in the middle lies the best resolution. Although some aspects of the most recent healthcare legislation, ACA, are not favorable I feel it is a step in a better direction. As with any change there are going to be things people do not like. However, development of plans to meet most needs is ideal and just as healthcare changes so does the need for changes in healthcare reform. “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1, ESV).

Reference

McLaughlin, C. P., & McLaughlin, C. D. (2015). Health policy analysis: An interdisciplinary

            Approach (2nd ed.). Sudbury, MA: Jones and Bartlett