wk 8 peer response
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hmgt_320__week8_peer_response.docxHMGT 320 Week #8 Response. Need a response to each post (Discussion). There are 4 post total. I have also attached my origanal post that requires a reponse back to my instructor. The question my teacher proposed from my original post will be first . The postings that require my peer response are listed next. An example of what a “response” is and or how long it should be. These post are very lengthy, I apologize. You may put you response on a different sheet of paper but please ensure you put the “name” of the person’s discussions you are responding to
Orignal Post:
Impact of the Affordable Care Act on
1. Decreases costs
The effect of the ACA on costs is two ways. One is through reduced costs of hospitals, and the other is reduced costs in federal spending on healthcare costs. A report by (Cunningham, 2015) indicates that the ACA has significantly reduced uncompensated care costs for the uninsured for hospitals. The Act offers provisions to support hospitals that serve patients covered by Medicaid. The government through the Act also includes the cost of uncompensated care for people not under the health insurance program. This has helped hospitals who are stuck with unpaid bills to clear this expenditure and thus cut on costs.
On the other hand, the Act has led to a reduction in the federal government spending through healthcare costs. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO, 2014) had predicted that the provisions allowed by the Act would increase costs for the government. However, that was only experienced at the beginning of the year 2010 when the Act was enacted. Six years down the line in 2016, the government has broken even, and reduced healthcare spending can be observed. The Act has also established structures to monitor the Medicaid and Medicare programs. These measures ensure the elimination of wasteful spending, fraud, and abuse that has led to significant budget savings.
2. Increased access
Statistics available at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS, 2015) showed that Medicaid expansion enrolled 12.3 million additional people in 2015 compared to those before 2013. This is an indication of how the health insurance program under the ACA had reached more people than when it first started. More states are embracing Medicaid due under the ACA. The Health Insurance Marketplaces established under the Act has also enabled more people to apply for government-funded health insurance programs. The marketplace has allowed eligibility for the programs for people who were previously left out such as young adults still under their parent’s care. This has significantly reduced the number of the uninsured in the country.
3. Increased quality or medical outcomes
The Act has also improved patient safety and a significant reduction in avoidable hospital readmissions has been observed. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, 2014) showed a decrease in death patients of up to 50,000 in 2014. This was attributed to patient safety enhanced by affordable healthcare. The major conditions that indicated improvement in quality include early elective deliveries and diabetes conditions by Medicare patients. There is increased safety in the hospital environments which has led to increased saving of lives. The 30-day readmission rate for Medicare patients has also reduced, which indicates increased medical care for these elderly patients.
4. Increased patient satisfaction
The financial incentives provided by the ACA have had an influence on increased patient satisfaction. More people can afford healthcare services through the Medicaid program which improves the general health of the population. At the same time, the increased healthcare quality enabled by the ACA has consequently increased patient satisfaction. Patient satisfaction metrics set out under the ACA on healthcare providers has boosted patient satisfaction. According to (Keybridge, 2013) more healthcare providers are offering quality services that satisfy patients to get high scores in the patient satisfaction measurement mechanisms. Higher scores mean more compensation for these providers under the Act and, therefore, encouraging increased patient satisfaction.
ACA a success or not?
Based on the above facts, it is clear that the ACA is working. The main objectives of the Act were to increase access to affordable healthcare and reduce the cost of spending on healthcare by the government. The statistics above are a clear indicator that the goals of the Act are being achieved. There is increased numbers in the insured as more people are taking the health insurance cover. The provisions of the Act that permit or allow for health insurance marketplaces has established attractive premium policies to accommodate more people who at first were not eligible for the programs. More lives have been saved due to increased quality of healthcare which has been attributed to monitoring policies under the Act. The hospital resources have also been supported by the Act making them more efficient in providing healthcare services. At last, it all trickles down to patient satisfaction, and this too has apparently increased over the past four years starting from the inception of the ACA. The Act has therefore been successful and will continue to be if the government does not alter any of its provisions.
Question from teacher:
· Jerome Bozek
Thu at 12:27 PM
Deidra, well written and researched.
I will continue to play devil's advocate in this discussion.
Clearly, the Medicaid expansion has provided coverage to more individuals, mainly the indigent. As you all may know, not all states (approx. 50%) have participated in this Medicaid expansion, since the states must co-fund the expansion. In addition, the federal portion of the Medicaid expansion has come from a reduction in payments by the Medicare program....in other words the govt. has helped the indigent to the detriment of the elderly, in the opinion of many.
Any responses/thoughts?
JB
Respond to professor
· Mmabuese Iweanoge posted Mar 2, 2016 7:57 PM
For the purposes of this Act, and for the purposes of any other provision of law, the current recommendations of the United States Preventive Service Task Force regarding breast cancer screening, mammography, and prevention shall improve health outcomes through the implementation of activities such as quality reporting, effective case management, care coordination, chronic disease management, and medication and care compliance initiatives, including through the use of the medical homes model as defined for purposes of section 3602 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, for treatment or services under the plan or coverage; implement activities to prevent hospital readmissions through a comprehensive program for hospital discharge that includes patient-centered education and counseling, comprehensive discharge planning, and post discharge reinforcement by an appropriate health care professional; implement activities to improve patient safety and reduce medical errors through the appropriate use of best clinical practices, evidence based medicine, and health information technology under the plan or coverage; and implement wellness and health promotion activities.
THANKS
MMABUESE
SOURCE: https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ148/pdf/PLAW-111publ148.pdf
Respond to Mmabues here:
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Gursanam Gill posted Mar 2, 2016 9:18 PM
The Affordable Care Act
A. Since 2011, support of health reform has fallen considerably. In 2012, 20% of consumers said that they did not have increased access to health insurance coverage, and 32% said that they did not feel as if health reform created a decrease in overall cost in their health care; 26% also said that they did not feel as if the quality of care, or the medical outcome of their care were increased.
B. According to the 2012 survey taken by Deloitte, the Affordable Care Act has not been as much of a success as it was intended to be.
Source:
Respond to Guranam:
· Week 8
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Miguel Wolfe posted Mar 2, 2016 5:03 PM
Using published benchmarks, what has been the impact of the Affordable Care Act on.
- decrease costs?
The Affordable Care Act mandates the minimum benefit and minimum value of a plan; because of this patients are able to have lower insurance cost while hospitals no longer have to worry as much about unpaid medical bills. Also the 80/20 rule controls how insurers make profits as well as hike rates on insurance which will keep premiums down.
- increased access?
Due to implementation of the affordable care act, over 16 million Americans were able to obtain health insurance within the first five years of this act going into effect. Patients dealing with pre-existing health issues can no longer be denied coverage which was a common problem in the past.
- increased quality/medical outcomes?
Affordable Care Act has allowed more health screenings to be covered through low deductibles and co-pays. More health facilities are starting to use EHR’s because ACA has used financial incentives to move physicians and other providers away from paper records.
- increased patient satisfaction?
Patient Satisfaction of the Affordable Care Act varies some people who were already paying insurance may have experienced higher rates on their premium due to the insurance company covering a wider range of benefits as well as covering people with pre-existing health problems. People who do not have insurance must pay a penalty every year which is expected to increase over time. However Other feel that ACA allows more people would could not afford insurance before, have a better opportunity of getting the care that they need.
1. Based on your research, do you feel ACA has been a success, or not a success. This should be based on the original objectives of the program as described to the American public in 2012, and what it has accomplished after it's four years since implementation.
Based on my research I believe ACA is starting to become a success; however, more research on the healthcare market should have been done before this act was implemented. ACA started out rough but as time has progressed the Affordable Care Act seems to have more pros than con.
Respond to Miguel here:
