Affordable Health Care Reform

Affordable Health Care Reform
Bohmer, R., & Knoop, C. I. (2007). The challenges facing the U.S. healthcare delivery system.
Harvard Business School, Article 9–606–096. In this article, the authors examine the dimensions of
challenges that faces healthcare deliver in the US. The major debates are; the healthcare system as a
citizenship right that cannot be alienated, and healthcare as a matter that needed libertarian approach
combining individual responsibility, diversity and competitiveness. The study was based on
secondary data. In the findings, the authors established that the US government spending on
healthcare was $1.9 trillion in 2004, and 34% of the population sought medication in hospitals. Drug
prescriptions were 10%. Medical injuries led to 50,000 to 100,000 ... Show more content on
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The medical home model is viewed as resonating well with the new and highly effective regimens
of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment and could reduce the prevalence of the disease. The authors
used statistical data in demonstrating the challenges faced by patients with chronic HCV infection
against the limitation of the existing healthcare system besides the ACA. The study considered the
ACA as beneficial in this regard, owing to its integration of the behavioral and medical healthcare,
and also on account that ACA expands the eligibility of Medicaid and offers consumer premium
subsidies. The study recommended that by maximizing ACA, the public would benefit more in
dealing with such serious infections as opposed to relying on the ordinary healthcare
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Health Care Reform Paper
The purpose of this paper is to discuss how a Public Health Nurse's role plays in the Health Care
Reform. I will describe a public health commpentenciy and disduss why it is important related to
Public Health Nursing. I will then discuss what the future to public health nursing is relation to the
Health Care Reform.
Public Helth Nursing in the Health Care Reform
The healthcare reform is to help increase medical care to individulas to better the health of the
population. The Center for Disease Control and Preventiion reports, "on the role of local health
departments (LHDs) contends that health care reform emphasizes the vital role of public health".
The aim to the Health Care Reform as the Minnesota Department of Health (2014) explains, "meets
the Institute for Healthcare ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Meeting these goals will help the disparity in the community. The public health nurse is out in the
community, they can see what changes in the community need to be done to better the health in the
population. They work with the local health departments to understand what the greatest need is for
funding to make the improvements in the community. As the American Public Health Association
reports, "only 3 percent of our health care spending is focused on prevention and public health,
when chronic conditions–the most common, costly and preventable of all health problems– account
for 86 percent of our health care costs". The Health Care Reform has made a special funding geared
toward public health. As the American Public health Association reports, "the Prevention Fund is the
nation's first mandatory funding stream dedicated to public health programs". A compentcy in the
public health nurses position would be to collaborate with the community, local businesses, health
oraginazations and local health departments to address the need of the community. Garcia et al.
(2014) explain, "an important skill is learning how to develop collaborative community partnerships
to

The New Health Care Reform
Lost in the New Health Care Reform In my view The Patients' Choice Act that was introduced by
Paul Ryan in 2009 would have been a better choice for the new health care reform than The
Affordable Care Act. Even though there is no health care crisis of the uninsured, Ryan's plan would
have involved incentives for preventive care that could lower the cost of premiums and encourage
healthier lifestyles. Under The Patients' Choice Act, the American people retain their freedom
whether to have health care or not; however the ACA has a personal mandate that requires
individuals to carry health care insurance or face a fine (tax). There are consequences when people
feel they have a right to health care instead of working for it. Ryan's ... Show more content on
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In spite of the uninsured and unseen these people, do receive free dental and medical care at
temporary clinics, such as the clinic that are set up on weekends near Wise, VA (Armstrong and
Wayne 1). Regardless of what some people are made to believe, health care is a privilege that you
work for. Everyone as a United States citizen has the right to pursue quality health care, and this
does not mean it should be given. As Peikoff says in his book, Health Care is Not a Right, "The
system guarantees you the chance to work for what you want–not to be given it without effort by
somebody else" (1). The government should not feed, clothe and provide health care, so the just
right person can spend money on some new technology. Witnessing first–hand, working at a
pharmacy, as a capable customer receives medication for free with the state plan while talking on
their smart phone. This is a good example of someone taking advantage of free services. If a capable
person can spend money on a smart phone and the monthly fees they are capable of paying for
health insurance. The Medicaid and Medicare systems are designed for the disabled, the unfortunate
and the elder; the capable citizens have the right either to obtain health care through health insurance
or to pay for health care out right. Living in a free country does not mean receiving free annuities. In
contrast, if everyone is guaranteed health care through the

Essay On Health Care Reform
The publics' opinion has had many influences on the debate on healthcare and healthcare reform.
Although an issue primarily in charge by the government, many people have been voicing their
opinion dating back all the way to the introduction of Medicare. Recent surveys have shown many
trends and many variations in public opinion that take a toll on health care reform. These opinions
played a very important role in the overall results of polls in the federal health care reform debate.
The polls that were studied were pulled from a range of opinion pulls dating back to 1943 however,
only 2008 and 2009–2010 reform opinions were pin pointed and reviewed/studied. These polls
specifically selected dealt with changes to the health care system as well ... Show more content on
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Sadly many Americans do not have health care while not participating in the debate to receive it. No
matter what happens in term of reform, whether Obamacare being discontinued or a new bill for
health care arises, this issue will always spark much debate within the government and in the
publics' eye. Healthcare will always be heavily politicized time and time again. If health care is
turned into something so extreme that it affects more and more people (even those who were happily
covered), a public push for reform will become that much

Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform 2010
There is so little contradiction that government should be engaged in one way or another in creating
a solution that gives Americans in need of medical assistance the right to life, liberty and the
continued pursuit of happiness. The disagreements come in recognizing the failure of government to
properly handle other socialized systems, the amount of government oversight that should be
imposed, and the coverage that should be part of any comprehensive national healthcare solution.
During his campaign, President Obama argued for health care ... Show more content on
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Universal health care coverage represents a fundamental shift in health care policy in the United
States and does not have widespread support among Republican members of Congress. Moreover,
unlike President Obama's health care reform element of reducing health care costs, universal health
care coverage will require large increases in spending from the federal government, likely
necessitating higher taxes. President Obama's proposal to provide coverage for the 47 million
Americans who were uninsured as of January 2008 is estimated to cost $102 billion per year.
Gruber, J. (2008). Covering the Uninsured in the U.S. Retrieved June, 2010 from http://econ–
www.mit.edu/files/2517. As the number of uninsured Americans continues to increase, so does the
cost of providing universal coverage.
Some cost savings initiatives in President Obama's health care reform framework will also be
challenging to implement, since they will be strongly opposed by the health care industry and some
members of Congress. President Obama's framework for reforming health care contains many
initiatives aimed at lowering health care costs, including regulating health plan loss ratios and
increasing the use of generic drugs. Barack Obama and Joe Biden's plan to lower health care costs
and ensure affordable, accessible health coverage for all. Retrieved June, 2010 from
http://www.barackobama.com/pdf/issues/ HealthCareFullPlan.pdf. The insurance industry will
oppose President Obama's proposal to

Health Care and the Reform Essay
Health insurance was developed to provide guaranteed coverage for sickness, injury and preventable
health measures. Currently, the United States is facing a major challenge in controlling the cost of
health care and providing coverage for everyone. This is why it is so important for the government
to develop a new health care insurance plan. The purpose of this paper is to explore the history of
health care, the major improvements made to coverage through the years. Discussing the healthcare
reform and the plans to improve the quality, and cost of health care for everyone in the United
States.
Birth of Health Insurance
Health insurance started in the early twentieth century when the working class of America faced the
problem of sickness ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With the guarantee of payment the first provider health care program was born. It was called Blue
Shield. Blue Shield's role was to "negotiate with doctors and hospitals for reduced prices in
exchange for a high volume of customers and guaranteed payment. To make up for the loss of
revenue, doctors and hospitals raised their prices for patients who did not have group health
insurance" (1). A lot companies during the 19040s and 50s were able to offer their employees health
care benefits, but for some this was not an option. Many of Americans and small businesses during
this time period could not afford group health insurance. This meant that the government had to
come up with new programs to provide coverage for the uninsured people.
Improvements to Health Insurance
There was hope and a need for an insurance that would benefit the disabled, elderly and unemployed
American people. The Medicare and Medicaid act of 1965 did just that and provided health
insurance coverage to millions of Americans in need. There was a glimpse of light at the end of their
dark tunnel "Medicare a uniform national health insurance program for the aged and certain disabled
persons. [Along with] Medicaid which is administered by the states within broad federal guidelines
and finances health services for certain low–income groups" (Lew "First

Health Care Reform Essay
U.S. health care reform is currently one of the most heavily discussed topics in health discourse and
politics. After former President Clinton's failed attempt at health care reform in the mid–1990s, the
Bush administration showed no serious efforts at achieving universal health coverage for the
millions of uninsured Americans. With Barack Obama as the current U.S. President, health care
reform is once again a top priority. President Obama has made a promise to "provide affordable,
comprehensive, and portable health coverage for all Americans..." by the end of his first term
(Barackobama.com). The heated debate between the two major political parties over health care
reform revolves around how to pay for it and more importantly, whether it ... Show more content on
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The proposed health care reform bill attempts to change issues of public policy and health care
management for the poor and uninsured. Many leaders from the Democratic Party are actively
engaging in policy–making to fix what Rep. Henry Waxman (D–California) calls a "'dysfunctional'
health care system" (2009). Currently, the U.S. health care system denies people with pre–existing
conditions from receiving care. Another problem with the system is that the health insurance that
some employers offer may be so expensive that their employees cannot afford it. Any cuts in
Medicaid may mean that physicians have fewer incentives to provide adequate care for the poor.
These are some of the many problems that the Affordable Health Choices Act attempts to address.
Fiscally conservative political and business groups oppose this measure because they believe that
any changes in public policy and health care management might affect them negatively.
As discussed in lecture (Paterniti, 2009) and in Oberlander's analysis of the U.S. health care system,
"any reform that threatens to alter the medical care arrangements of the insured is likely to provoke
public opposition" (2003). Most likely, the insured are well off financially and/or politically
powerful. These people, who are for the most part content with their current health insurance, would
oppose

Healthcare Reform And Health Care Reform
As evidenced by the constant battle over health care reform, healthcare in the United States has
become a growing problem that must be addressed. While the main controversy seems to be the
politics of healthcare reform and whether the government should have total control, the one thing
that I believe should be the focus, is the quality of care that is embedded in the patient doctor
relationship. It's quite troublesome when large health insurance companies are swaying politicians to
vote for less health care regulation and higher premiums rather than focusing on the quality of care
and the importance of the patient doctor relationship, which has become overshadowed. That is why
I believe it is important to look at and consider how health care reform such as the PPACA and
policies implemented by private insurance companies have affected the doctor–patient relationship
and thereby influenced the quality of medical care. One of the many reasons that I find this an
interesting and important topic is because I aspire to work in the medical field and the interaction
between patients and doctors is important for me to consider and determine how it has changed,
whether it be for better or worse, throughout the years as a result of added regulations and new
reforms.
A pivotal aspect of receiving quality medical care is being able to communicate your health
concerns and have confidence and trust in your doctor, which is essentially the doctor patient
relationship. Yet, this

Health Care Reform In Canada
Health care reform has been the main factor of parting between Canada and the United States, with
the different political systems of the countries influencing how the molding of the system occurs. A
Social Democratic Third Party in Canada had created the foundation of reform, the influence that a
third party had on the government of Canada was significant (Maioni, 1997, p.415). The working
class banded together to support the third party in Canada to push for their rights in a way that the
major two parties were unable to do and unconcerned with doing, the third party that was supported
created essentially a voice that gave the working class a prominent position in their country with
concern to reform in health benefits. Within the United States ... Show more content on
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Beginning in Saskatchewan with the help of the Co–Operative Commonwealth Federation in
coalition with the New Democratic Party holding control in the province of Sasakachwan and
acquiring great influence through the support of labour workers in other provinces they were able to
pressure the government towards reform and grasp the attention of the working class (Maioni, 1997,
p.415). The joining of an organization like the CCF and the political party of NDP created great
influence that led to the formation of universal health care by means of a third party. As opposed to
the United States who were unable to convince the organization nor the political party to get
involved in the reforms of health services, this stood in the way of reform, the inability to form a
coalition between these two groups and inability to convince them of reforms in healthcare led to the
rejection (Maioni, 1997, p.420). It was not solely an issue of the lack of third party representation
rather that health care reform was not an idea that had an opportunity to be tested in a state under a
trial basis therefore they were unable to weigh the benefits or consequences as had happened in
Saskatchewan, in which they essentially had senn how the system worked and drew up the
conclusion that that universal health care would be a benefit to Canada (Maioni, 1997, p.421).

The Benefits Of Health Care Reform
Health care reform is in the air and spearheading its momentum is none other than President Barack
Obama whose slogan, "Change you can believe in," is now being implemented at an alarming pace
to many. Obama Care as its being called by its opponents is a concerted effort on the part of the
Democratic Party to enact sweeping legislation that would overhaul the entire health care system in
the United States. Originally the push for reform began as a call to reform the health care system,
but it has recently been transformed by the Democratic leadership into a more nuanced argument for
changing the health insurance industry. In either case, the bill is causing widespread controversy
across the entire country because of the potential impact it ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
Even though we don't always prepare the healthiest meals for our respective families that often like
fast–food or simple meals like pizza, we need to try as often as we can. This Healthy Labor Day
recipe, one of my family's favorite holiday meals, will give cooking enthusiasts and food
aficionados alike, the assistance they need to make a delicious Labor Day meal that is not only tasty,
but healthy for your and your entire family as well. With the summer season's final holiday quickly
approaching, let's get down to business. To prepare this meal you will need the following: 1 bag of
baby spinach leaves 1 bag of butter lettuces 1 bag of garden salad mix 1 pack of whole fresh
mushrooms 1 green bell pepper 1 red bell pepper 1 orange bell pepper 2 brushes of broccoli 1 pack
mini tomatoes 1 red onion 1 large bag of frozen Oriental stir –fry 2 bags of individually packed
Tilapia fillets 1 box of aluminum foil 1 bottle of Lawyer's Lemon Pepper Marinade Bottles of salad
dressings Now that you have all your supplies, let's start with the salad. First, you will need to cut
the stems off of the baby spinach leaves. Once that is done, take a large bowl, rinse it well and then
mix all three bags of salad mix. Finally, rinse and cut all your vegetables to your desire then add to
bowl and mix well. You can also add in salad seasoning, which I generally do, if you desire. To
make to stir–fry, you will need a

The Health Care Crisis And An Understanding Of The Reforms
A. The health care crisis and an understanding of the reforms The American Health Care system to
say the least is wasteful, bloated, and generally inefficient and therefore in dire need for immediate
review. This has largely been as a result of factors such as costs, poor investment return for outlays,
inequitably distribution, and being based on anachronistic business model geared at treating diseases
more than promoting wellness. The figures are all there to see why a radical surgery of the health
care reforms has been long overdue. One reason why we have been spending too much on health
care is out of our incentives which are perverse.–we have been paying doctors by the procedures
they perform as opposed to the quality of health care we ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Over the last few decades, a deliberate fundamental but progressive shift in structure towards
provision of care in outpatient settings avoiding inpatient overnight stays in hospitals has been
embraced. Theoretically, such a shift is meant to save on costs as fixed costs in outpatients setting
are generally lower than in–hospital stays. Unfortunately, this shift resulted to much higher
utilization and adding more costs to the system. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into
law by President Obama on March 23, 2010 which marked a historic milestone for the Democrats
who had for decades been yearning for such a legislation. It signified a turning point in Americans'
healthcare expansion, availability and affordability. The coming into force of the Act gave hard
working Americans families security by holding the insurance companies accountable as well as
lowering the cost of health care, and giving them more freedom and control in making their health
care choices and improving the care quality. Previously, different reforms in the health care sector
have been proposed to address issues of cost as well as coverage to include such health areas like
prevention and treatment of chronic ailments, obesity, defensive medicine, incentives rewarding
more care, redundant payment systems, rationing, doctors' and nurses' shortage, fraud, use of
imaging technology, tax

Former President Bill Clinton introduced a Health Security Proposal in 1993, which was his attempt
for a fundamental reform of the American healthcare system (Longest, 2010). In January of 1993,
Clinton announced that he would be putting together a team of experts to review the issue of health
care cost and develop a plan to propose to congress (Bok, 1998). On September 22, 1993, Clinton
then made a speech to Congress announcing this new health plan (Bok, 1993). In his speech, Clinton
urged law makers to "Fix a health care system that is badly broken, giving every American health
security–health care that is always there, health care that can never be taken away" (Bok, 1993). He
also mentioned in his speech that health care was ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
His premiums were raised because his health insurance company told him that two of his employees
had become high risk because of their age (Rample, 2009). Because of this increase in cost,
Kennedy could no longer afford to insure his employees. The two high risk employees were his
parents who had founded the company (Rample, 2009). In his speech, Clinton stated: "Millions of
Americans are just a pink slip away from losing their health insurance and one serious illness away
from losing all their savings (Rample, 2009). During this time, over 37 million Americans, most
working adults and their children were uninsured (Rample, 2009). Medical bills were growing at
over twice the rate of inflation, and the United Stated was spending over a third more of its income
on health care than any other nation in the world (Rample, 2009). Clinton believed the only way to
fix the problem with United States health care was to start with congressional action (Rample,
2009). Clinton combined different principles and ideas that have been accepted by the Republican
and Democratic Party in Congress (Rample, 2009). The universal Health care plan focused on six
principles: security, simplicity, savings, choice, quality and responsibility. Security refers to the
American who did not have health care, now being able to have it and for the Americans who were
insured; they know have the security of knowing it will not be taken

Women's Health Care Reform
Woman's health issues must be considered in the health care reform because of preventative health
care, mental health, and women need specific health care and benefits. 1) Preventative health care in
women provides the diagnostic and preemptive disease treatments. Preventative measures include
contraceptives, breast examinations, pap–smears, counseling and education, and mental health
screenings. Preventative care is so important in women because women need specific health care
rather than men. The specific health care that is needed for women prevents the extra costs of future
treatments and medications of diseases and genetic disorders that are prevalent in women only. The
health care reform must include women's health for that fact that

The Health Care Reform Act
The Health Care Reform Act was designed to benefit the citizens of the United States. Thanks to the
Affordable Care Act, 3.1 million more young adults have health insurance on their parent's plan,
three million seniors have received a 50 percent discount on their prescription drugs, and millions of
Americans now have access to no–cost preventive services to help them stay healthy. Abusive
insurance practices are becoming a thing of the past. Additionally, the Affordable Care Act helps
small businesses with the cost of providing health insurance for their employees and helps doctors
and other health providers care for their patients more effectively.
(http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform/relief–for–americans–and–businesses) The Health ...
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3590) and the Health Care Education Reconciliation Act 2010 (H.R. 4872). When President Obama
signed these two bills, they became Public Law. The purpose of the ACA is to make health care
more accessible to all residents of the United States by three means: mandating all U.S. residents to
select a health insurance plan, forbidding insurers from denying coverage based on a pre–existing
condition, and expanding program. The ACA states that the federal government will pay 100% of
the cost of a newly enrolled Medicaid participants until 2016 for all states that expand their
Medicaid program up to 138% of the federal poverty level and will pay90% by 2020 (Kincaid,
2013). Other concerns include whether the federal government will give state enough flexibility to
manage Medicaid program, whether hospitals will receive adequate compensation to care for more
patients and whether the physician workforce can accommodate the increased demand for care
(Kincaid, 2013). The ACA is affected by two things, one is payments of hospitals and providers. The
ACA does not provide fee for service towards a bundled payment. This type of payment, a set amout
is paid for all services rendered and treatment related sickness. The ACA emphasizes pay per
performance, meaning that the providers will not receive payment based on the patient outcome. For
example, if the patient has shown no improvement there will be penalties. Also, there will be
penalties if the patient has to be hospitalized

Health Care Reform Sociology
Healthcare reform is full of diversity. From looking at the government level in cost containment in
Canada to the multifaceted workforce that provides many different services. Viewing healthcare
reform through the gender lens draws attention to the differences and identifying efficiency,
economic factors, social structure and education. The meaning of health care reform is defined by
Gustafson (2000) "Health care reform may be understood as the dynamic interplay among economic
changes, the role of the state, institutional discourse and practices, and social reproduction within
the public and private spheres" (p.15). Viewing the health care issues through the gender lens means
to identify differences in health information facts based on influences of a gender perspective. The
experience of women in the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
With the focus on efficiency and work, productivity may only be beneficial to the bottom line of the
budget. According to Gustafson (2000) stated: Care providers need adequate time to assess health
needs, plan and negotiate care options and provide care to their clients...Reform initiatives that cut
staff and resources deny many women the time they need to work wisely and well and in the best
interest of those they serve (p.19).
Resulting in less time for the patients needs and concerns to be addressed. Removing the focus away
from client orientated care to budget orientated care. In today's economy, we need to be cost
efficient without risking the patient outcome. Strategies that implement high quality of caregiving
the health workers resources and education to promote quality care. Focusing on all employees that
are involved giving them a safe work environment. With a plan for action that can be implemented,
monitored and evaluated with the expected outcome of quality care for the patient and a safe work
environment for all

Health Care Reform
United States
Main article: Health care reform in the United States
Health care reform in the United States
Healthcare reform in the US
Debate over reform
History
Latest enacted legislation
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Senate bill – H.R. 3590)
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (H.R. 4872)
preceding legislation
Social Security Amendments of 1965
Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (1986)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (1996)
Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act (2003)
Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act (2005)
[show]
More information ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The US pays twice as much yet lags other wealthy nations in such measures as infant mortality and
life expectancy, which are among the most widely collected, hence easily compared, international
statistics. Many people are underinsured, for example, in Colorado "of those with insurance for a
full year, 36.3% were underinsured."[6][7] About 10.7 million insured Americans spend more than a
quarter of their annual paychecks on health care because of the high deductible polices.[8]
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Public Law 111–148) was signed into law by
President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. Along with the Health Care and Education
Reconciliation Act of 2010 (signed March 30), the Act is a product of the health care reform efforts
of the Democratic 111th Congress and the Obama administration. The law includes health–related
provisions to take effect over the next four years, including expanding Medicaid eligibility for
people

Our Health Care Reform
On March 23, 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act was signed into law. Along with
the Health Care and Reconciliation Act that was signed a week later these two bills became known
as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) (Tacchino, 2012). This act has had a massive effect on almost
everyone in the healthcare industry. The cost associated with reimbursement from Medicaid,
medical coverage for individuals, and nursing practices has made many changes in the way
healthcare is delivered. With these transformations there will be an impact on the future of nursing
over the next 10 years and more.
Forces Driving Health Care Reform:
Legislative, Consumer, and Ethical Forces and New Models of Care President Theodore Roosevelt
first proposed reforming healthcare in 1912, with an effort to start universal healthcare. This effort
was again proposed by President Truman in 1949 in his State of the Union message. Once again the
effort was dismissed by the American Medical Association, fearing a loss in physician revenue
(Cleary & Wilmoth, 2011). In 2010, President Obama signed the ACA bill which has been under fire
since its proposal. The ACA is supposed to expand the benefits of healthcare to more than 32 million
Americans with the requirement of all individuals to have some kind of health insurance by 2014.
These ideas had been circulating legislation for many years and Congress was just waiting for the
right type of legislative to pass the bill. Most democrats have pushed

Essay On Health Care Reform
Introduction
Since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010, there has been a continuous
debate about the effects it will have on the United States economy. Many people argue that
expanding insurance coverage for all people will create crippling cost burdens for the economy and
taxpayers. While others believe that the ACA will in fact give the economy a much–needed boost. In
2006 as a measure to improve overall healthcare, the state of Massachusetts implemented the Health
Care Insurance Reform Act. This paper looks at the positive and negative effects of the
Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform Act (MHRA). Using a literature review of public
health studies ranging from 2009–2012, I argue that there are both positive and negative effects of
the Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform. While the Massachusetts Reform increased health
insurance coverage for all citizens and decreased the number of uninsured citizens accessing
emergency rooms, it also did very little to decrease already existing racial, ethnic, and
socioeconomic disparities among minorities and whites in the state of Massachusetts. Understanding
the Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform Act may help in the goal of trying to achieve near–
universal healthcare. This paper provides an understanding of the missing pieces in the
Massachusetts Health Care Insurance Reform Act and constitutes a starting place from which to
understand the Affordable Care Act.
Literature Review The

Lost in the New Health Care Reform The Patients' Choice Act gives the American people
opportunity to choose the health care plan that meets the individual health needs. The Obama
administration under the Democratic Party felt the need for a different health care reform, The
Affordable Care Act (ACA). To justify this health care reform the Democratic Party implied that the
health care crisis in the United States is caused by the uninsured and that everyone had a right to
health care. Under the Patients' Choice Act, the American people retain their freedom whether to
have health care or not, however the ACA has a personal mandate that requires individuals to buy or
carry health care insurance or face a fine (tax). To fund ACA ... Show more content on
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Ryan believes that the plan would have ensured universal, affordable health care for all Americans,
which did not raise taxes or increased government spending. Indeed, the health care crisis in the
United States, according to the ACA is caused by the uninsured citizens. The article, A Creeping
Catastrophe, stated by the polling firm Lake Research Partners "while 47 million Americans are
uninsured, 91 percent of voters in the 2008 election had some form of health insurance" (Armstrong
and Wayne 3). While 47 million people sounds like an excessive amount, it essentially equals to
15% of the USA population for that year. The 15% uninsured are the homeless, drug addicts, or have
a religious reason that either do not need or care to have health care insurance. Despite the uninsured
and unseen these people, do receive free dental and medical care at temporary clinics, such as the
clinic that are set up on weekends near Wise, VA (Armstrong and Wayne 1). Despite the Obama
Administration, believing that the declined health care is the uninsured, in fact the cause is from
poor health in the United States. Our life expectancy for women in 1945 ranked 1st in the world and
has decreased now ranking the 20th in 1999 (Battista and McCabe 1). The Decline in health "despite
the nation's wealth–or perhaps because of it–one of the most obese population in the world"
(Armstrong and Wayne 2). Obesity induce various health problems that are "preventable

Health Care Reform And The Underinsured
Health Care Reform and the Underinsured Health Care reform is a major topic of discussion in
today's society, especially with the relatively novel release of the Patient Protection and Affordable
Care Act (ACA) by the Obama administration. Historically, the health care system has
disproportionally favored those of higher class and income, resulting in diminished health care for
those that could not afford it. The Institute of Medicine's (IOM) 2002 report, Unequal Treatment:
Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care, states that a lack of insurance
substantially contributes to the proliferation of healthcare disparities. Furthermore, racial and ethnic
minorities are most subject to these healthcare disparities because they are significantly more likely
to be uninsured. (1) The history of health care reform in the United States, as it pertains to under–
insured urban populations, will be discussed, with a specific emphasis on its impact on African–
Americans; in addition, the modern resolutions to healthcare disparities will be assessed. The 17th
century was one of discovery. It was when British settlers first arrived to North America and
established the first North American colony. The US was non–existent and it would take over a
century for colonists to gain independence from Britain. Tracing it back to its roots, America was
founded by and populated by immigrants; however, nearly 300 years after the first settlers arrived,
there is still a gross

History Of Health Care Reform
History of Health Care Reform
Our country has been on the cusp of health care reform several times throughout history. It has
evolved from strictly a patient and physician system to numerous other parties in the equation from
patients, physicians, hospitals, insurance carriers and government programs to name a few. The
latest health care reform came with passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
(ACA) signed into law on March 23, 2010. This new law is a conglomerate of the many attempts at
health care reform throughout the years.
In the early 1900's, healthcare was aimed at protecting workers from lost wages and medical
expenses while they were sick (Hoffman, 2003). President Truman proposed universal health
insurance but it was seen as socialized medicine and the legislation never passed (Oberlander,
2012). He did manage to pass the Social Security Act of 1935 that later became the basis for
Medicare and Medicaid (Hoffman C. , 2009).
"Military Medicare" was passed in 1956 that provided health care benefits for military dependents.
Employer based insurance continued to grow during this time. As health care was becoming more
difficult to get for older Americans and the sick, the U.S. government became involved and passed
Medicare/Medicaid legislation on July 30, 1965 (Taylor, 2014). Medicare Part A to pay for hospital
care, skilled nursing and home health, optional Medicare Part B to pay for physician care, and
Medicaid, to assist states in covering

Healthcare Financial Reform Proposal Sandra Xavier Grand Canyon University: HCA 240 Professor
Tina Block July 8, 2012 Healthcare Financial Reform Proposal I believe healthcare reform is a
waste of time and money but I also see that it can be beneficial to many uninsured Americans. First
of all, health care costs keep rising and in 2011 the average cost for a family of four increased by
7.3% or $19,393. This is double the cost estimated in 2003, and by 2030 payroll taxes will cover
only 38% of Medicare Costs and the rest will be added to our already enormous budget deficit.
Second, health care reform is needed to improve the quality of care, which is the worst in the
developed world. Chronic diseases cause almost 70% of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
These reforms are expected to save an additional $13.5 billion over 10 years according to Healthcare
Financial Management Association (Fiercehealthfinance.com). President Obama's pledge to pay for
the program by taxing the rich, who is anyone that makes more than $1 million a year (which would
include President Obama) and will make for "a marketplace that provides choice and competition"
(Conniff, 2009). He also proposes that reform is about every American who has ever feared losing
their coverage if they become too sick, lose their jobs or even change their jobs. It's realizing that the
biggest force behind our deficit is the growing costs for Medicare and Medicaid programs." A
powerful force for change can be created by embracing transparency. According to the Department
of Health and Human Services, "transparency is a broad–scale initiative enabling consumers to
compare quality and the price of health care services so they can make their own informative
choices among doctors and hospitals. This initiative is laying the foundation for pooling and
analyzing information about procedures, hospitals and physicians services. In order to create value
driven health care, there are four steps to turn raw data into

The RN's Role in Healthcare Reform Healthcare Reform has been and still is a highly debated
controversial political issue in this country. It has been a hot topic of past presidential campaigns,
with many proposed solutions, none of which were enacted upon by Congress. The Affordable Care
Act (ACA) was passed in 2010. This law or Obamacare, as it is commonly called, was designed to
cover the 48 million Americans, including about 1 million in New Jersey who did not have health
insurance. It is envisioned to provide seamless, affordable, quality care that is accessible to all. Great
emphasis will be placed on transforming our current "sick care" hospital system into a community
"health care" system of prevention and health promotion. This paper discusses the evolving and
future roles of nurses under the new system. It also examines the proposals of a joint committee
made up of members of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
(RWJF), as an initiative to help nurses in their new leadership roles to a healthier nation. According
to the Committee's report, under the new system nurses will be tasked to (i) practice to the full
extent of their education and training; (ii) achieve higher levels of education and training; (iii) be
full partners with doctors and other health care professionals in redesigning health care in the United
States; and (iv) effectively plan workforce policy that require better data collection and the use of

The Health Care Reform Debate
One of the fear factors in the health care reform debate is cost. The United States at present has a
costly system, and there is genuine worry that covering millions of additional people will increase
costs significantly. It is not how much the United States devotes on health care that is vital, it is also
how constant that quantity is increasing. I believe the cause of costly health care is the very
beneficial insurance industry. We pay a massive amounts to these corporate giants, who then
regulate accountable how they will cover us, what treatments and which doctors will help us. Of
course they are not responsible to us, as customers, but only to their shareholders. We argued that
although the health care cost is great; Americans do ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
We also decided not to make any changes in higher education due to the fact that the budget will
slowly decrease as the years pass by. We also made no change in Medicare, but will be advocates for
an increase in the age to 67 years. Another decision was that we would make no change in health
services and research. We also decided to increase Medicaid by 2% which we will acquire from
taking 1% away from atomic energy defense activities and another 1% from the federal employee
retirement and disability funds. This will help balance out the increasing budgets. Healthcare is a
very complicated manipulative system. The way to adjust this system is to initiate modification from
all angles, from the bottom to the top. We can take out costs by abridging and regulating so much,
especially in the billing and electronic medical record system. We also have to modify operation
patterns. The United States is not acquiring 20 or even 30 percent better health care or outcomes
than other countries do. While there are points of greatness, particularly at some of America's
prominent academic health foundations and in unified health care strategies, the quality is unequal.
And quality is a problem that affects us all, whether rich or poor. Practically no matter how we
calculate it, whether by life expectancy or by survival for particular diseases like asthma, heart
disease or cancers; by the rate of medical errors; or merely by gratification with health care

Health Care Reform
Technology is being used everywhere in the world. For example, technology is used to make cars,
clothes, eye glasses, to teach and now it is utilized in health care every day. Technology plays a
major role in the health care reform Act to reduce costs, improve access, and save lives. The Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act , and its constitutionality ruling by the United States Supreme
Court last June 28, 2012, mandates requiring all electronic medical records for all health care
agencies in 2014 ( Jha, 2013, p 1628) . David Blumenthal (2009) surveyed all acute care hospitals in
the American Hospital Association and found only 1.5% of U.S. Hospitals have comprehensive
electronic medical records system. Also included in the Patient ... Show more content on
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Certain political members are against the Healthcare Reform ACT however, all hospitals must
comply. To assist hospitals with meeting the deadline the government agency of Department of
Medicaid and Medicare services implemented, The Health Information Technology for Economic
and Clinical Act with meaningful use. This ACT has distributed millions of dollars to hospitals as an
incentive to implement electronic medical record and computerize provider order entry before 2016
(Blumenthal, D 2010, p 501). Some political concerns was the national electronic medical record
database will infringe on the patients' privacy rights because of this the Health Insurance Patient
Portability Act has been enhanced to enforce patient's rights and privacy with technology.
Conclusion
In conclusion working with all the technology advances to improve patient care, nurses must
remember three main professional standards of nursing.
1. Communication skills to be practiced with patients, families, and professional colleagues.
2. The need to demonstrate leadership within the practice setting and the

Health Care Reform: Then and Now
One common theme that has resurfaced throughout the entire Obama administration and has created
a great deal of focus and debate is health care reform. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care
Act (PPACA) which was introduced by Obama in 2010 creates a new structure of health care. It
transforms health care from "late–stage, high intensity, illness focused, tertiary, interventional health
service to a much stronger value driven focus on achieving the highest levels of health" (Porter–
O'Grady, 2014, p. 65). Through this act, legislation has been created that regulates the way hospitals
and physicians are reimbursed, which is built on evidenced–based, quality health care outcomes that
are cost effective without infringing upon patient satisfaction. At the heart of this debate is the
impact on nursing care, for nursing is the largest health care professional as well as the largest
component of health care costs. Any change in the health care reimbursement will greatly affect the
nursing practice (Buerhaus, 2010). In order to fully understand the impact of this health care reform,
one must understand that health care reform is not a new concept. Health care reform has been
transforming since the 1800s. In the 1800s there was little discussion about health insurance,
reimbursement nor a demand for doctor or hospital services, for family members cared for each
other in the home. However, with the industrialization of America in the early 1900s, the general
public became

Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform A newest way to finance health care now days is the health care reform which it
is also called Obama Care. The Affordable Care Act was signed into law in 2010. The main
objective behind the Affordable Care Act was to ensure that affordable health care insurance was
available to every U.S citizen. This law is an extensive document that contains many regulations and
laws that relate not only to health care but also to the regulation of insurance companies. One of the
best known regulations is that group health plans can no longer put limitations or deny benefits to
individuals under the age of 19 due to pre–existing conditions and individuals under the age of 26,
are now eligible to be covered under their parents' ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Medicare beneficiaries will experience lower costs on prescription drugs, primary, and preventive
services. The new law expanded Medicare by fighting fraud, adding new benefits, and improving
care for patients. Medicare will see lower cost on prescription drugs and free preventive services.
There are positives and negatives when it comes to the affordable care act. According to Blumberg
(2012) some of the positive aspects of the health care reform are:
– Increased access to health care services
– Increased affordability of health care services.
– Decreasing of overall costs in health care.
– Employers are able to get a tax break for offering health coverage to their employees
– Lower rate for employers offering health coverage to their employees.
– Individuals are able to purchase health insurance even if they have pre–existing conditions.
– Individuals under the age of 26 are able to stay under their parents insurances.
– Better quality of care for elderly patients.
– New health prevention and wellness programs. Some of the negative sides to the health care
reform includes:
– Individuals are required to purchase their own insurance if their income is above the guidelines.
– They could face penalties that will increase gradually if they choose not to purchase an insurance
policy.
– Premiums may be too high for some individuals even with the tax breaks and discounts.

The Reform Of The Health Care Reform Essay
The latest health care reform has done what few policies manage to do – sicken both republicans
and progressive democrats. While we can all agree that a reform of the health care system is sorely
needed, we must also acknowledge that "Obamacare" is not the cure–all we so desperately require.
Rather, President Obama, like a medieval barber, prescribed a health care reform that treated the
symptoms of our flawed system rather than the actual disease. The subsidization of health insurance
providers has proven ineffective at providing affordable coverage for all. Certainly one is likely to
hear the various incendiary talking points of both the proponents and opponents. Whether it's the
republican candidates blaspheming Obamacare as socialism, or the administration praising the
success of health care for all, it is difficult to actually find constructive dialogue. We are purview to
many sound bites, but few actual solutions. We have witnessed heated debates, but rarely do we
witness intelligent discourse. If beneficial reform is to be crafted and implemented, we must first
acknowledge the issues and inconsistencies of the current system and begin to explore alternate
methods of providing health care to the American people. This diagnoses of the flaws in our health
care system must start with identifying and redefining the social constructs of America. In most
other civilized nations, it is generally accepted that it is in the best interest of the public that every
individual be

Hippocratic Oath is one of the oldest binding documents in history, and it is still held sacred by
physicians to help the ill, to preserve a patient's privacy, but most importantly it is taken by doctors
swearing to practice medicine ethically. Practicing medicine ethically might have been very sacred
centuries ago, but unfortunately it is not the case in today's society especially in the United States.
Doctors in the United States face more than just high education costs, liability insurance payments,
and long hours of work just to stay on top of the latest advancement in medical technology, but
many of them also have to deal every day with insurance companies that do not want to cover their
patients recommended treatments. A doctor's ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The fear of organized medicines opposition to universal health care became standard from that point
on. Health Care reform came back into considerations again in the 1990s by the Clinton
Administration, but once again the plan was shut down
The Patient Protection Affordability Act is currently one of the hottest topics among politicians, the
Act affects every man, woman and child. About 47 million people in America do not have health
care coverage and are faced with a burden of paying high medical costs and those who do have
coverage face the burden of paying high premiums. I am a Citizen of Poland, and I was a legal
resident of Canada, both counties who have Universal Health Care systems, I have been living in
Poland for the first 10 years of my life, Canada for the next two years, therefore I can speak from
experience about the effects of Universal Health Care System. Some arguments against the universal
health care systems are that patients have to wait for hours to see a doctor, and while in the
emergency room days if a patient comes into the ER with a less serious condition than others, I can
say that both of these theories have been false at least in some of the situations where I needed
medical attention. In the summer of 2006 while I was already living in the United States I was
involved in a car accident, I was taken into

Lost in the New Health Care Reform In my view The Patients' Choice Act that was introduced by
Paul Ryan in 2009 would have been a better choice for the new health care reform than The
Affordable Care Act. Even though there is no health care crisis of the uninsured, Ryan's plan
involved incentives for prevented care that could lower cost of premiums and encourage healthier
lifestyles. Under The Patients' Choice Act, the American people retain their freedom whether to have
health care or not; however the ACA has a personal mandate that requires individuals to carry health
care insurance or face a fine (tax). Ryan's plan would have ensure universal affordable health care
for all Americans without increasing government spending. There is no health care crisis in the
United States. The new health care reform, ACA, is focused on the small amount of the uninsured
citizens as the health care crisis. In the article, A Creeping Catastrophe, stated by the polling firm
Lake Research Partners "while 47 million Americans are uninsured, 91 percent of voters in the 2008
election had some form of health insurance" (Armstrong and Wayne 3). While 47 million people
sounds like an excessive amount it essentially equals to 15% of the USA population for that year.
The 15% uninsured are the homeless, drug addicts, or have a religious reason that either do not need
or care to have health care insurance. In spite of the uninsured and unseen these people, do receive
free

Essay Health Care Reform
Health Care Reform
There has been a lot of talk and debate lately over Health Care Reform, as people are trying to
answer the question – Should a universally accessible health care system be implemented in the
United States (US)? This ongoing highly debatable issue remains a hot topic among US citizens
from all walks of life, from the very poor to the very wealthy. Health Care Reform affects everyone.
The vast majority of the US population is very dissatisfied with the current state of health care.
According to the ABC News and Washington Post cooperative poll, 57 percent of Americans aren't
satisfied with the overall system of health care (Langer, 2009). Consequently, the issue of the Health
Care Reform was born, but before analyzing the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Moreover, Americans have quite a diverse outlook on health insurance and its applicability in
different situations. The Washington Post poll stated that 49 percent of people affirm the idea of
overall health insurance (if it is required). More importantly, the majority of respondents agreed on
certain major points that insurance must contain and they are: special aid to the poor (70 percent),
coverage of those, who have pre–existing conditions such as disability or chronic diseases (68
percent), must be offered by the employers (62 percent), and underinsured mustn't pay into
government funds (52 percent) (Langer,2009).
Most Americans are provided with some form of insurance either through their employer or an
individual plan which is part of a public program such as Medicaid or Medicare. However, there are
still 45 million people who lack coverage (Melisa Paradis, Janelle Wood, Mary Cramer, 2009).
According to the governmental insurance plan, people who are underinsured must be protected and
have an opportunity to buy suitable medical coverage through the insurance exchange. Yet the actual
utilization of such an exchange is scheduled in the beginning of 2013, which indicates a
considerable period of waiting. America's Affordable Health Choices Act informs that people should
be provided with standardized benefit packages in order to compare the

Health Care Reform : The Affordable Care Act
For centuries, health care has been an ever changing entity within the United States. The cost of
health insurance, medication, and medical care has fluctuated from high to low. Over the years with
all the changes to healthcare, those in Congress try to appease everyone that is involved. For
example, trying to make healthcare affordable for those who are less fortunate and live around the
poverty line. As well as, employers who may have to revamp their insurance plans offered to the
employees. Recently the talk about healthcare has put many people in an uproar. Health care reform
has been a very debatable topic since President Obama has been in office. Health care reform, also
known as Obama Care, has a section called the Affordable Care ... Show more content on
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Within the Affordable Care Act there is also an employer mandate.
The Obama Care employer mandate / employer penalty, originally set to begin in 2014, will be
delayed until 2015 / 2016. The Obama Care "employer mandate" is a requirement that all businesses
with over 50 full–time equivalent (FTE) employees provide health insurance for their full–time
employees, or pay a per month "Employer Shared Responsibility Payment" on their federal tax
return (Obama Care Facts, 2014).
This mandate puts pressure on employers to insure all of their employees, as well as raises the cost
for employers since they have to pay a bigger portion of the health insurance costs. In order to avoid
the employer mandate, some companies have cut back hours which makes it a bit more affordable
for the company. With this Act being effect it may take some time for people to get used to it and see
the overall bigger picture.
With changes to something so influential, there comes positives and negatives. Some positives of
the Affordable Care Act are increased access to healthcare, reduce healthcare cost, and coverage of
pre–existing conditions. With increased access to healthcare, many people who did not have the
opportunity previously, will now be able to have access to decent healthcare. According to the
Obama Care Facts websites, "Tens of millions of uninsured will get access to affordable quality
health insurance through the marketplace" (2014). Also, previously to the Act if a

Preventative Health Care Reform
The progress of health care delivering towards improvement, prevention and wellness in the United
States is part of the role of the health care reform which is very is very. Many health problems and
issues are facing the health care industry with the influx of patient into the health care system and
shortages of health care providers to render adequate and quality care. In the healthcare arena,
preventive care is increasing in popularity. A large percentage of the patient population is uninsured
and the costs associated with chronic disease are extreme, therefore preventive care initiatives are
essential, which makes it health care reform so important and needs urgent action. Preventative
health care has turn out to be a progressively standard in the health care sector. With a diversity of
methods to educate populations and prevent illnesses, this type of health care works to improve the
overall wellness of Americans. Preventative health care enlightens populations, promotes healthy
lifestyles and provides early treatment for illnesses. In the industry, the emergence of health care
reform and an increased number of individuals suffering ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net
...
The creation of a National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council was
accomplished through law, which organizes the work of federal agencies to cultivate a national
approach on prevention, wellness and public health activities. There is a significant financial
commitment by the law for the national strategy by authorizes $7 billion yearly through 2015 and $2
billion in each year after for a Prevention and Public Health Fund. The funds will upkeep prevention
research, health screenings, obesity prevention, tobacco control, immunization programs, and other

Health Care Reform : The Affordable Care Act
You Lose in the New Health Care The Patients' Choice Act gives the American people opportunity
to choose the health care plan that met the individual health needs. Obama admirations under the
Democratic Party felt the need for a different health care reform, The Affordable Care Act (ACA).
To justify this health care reform the Democratic Party implied that the health care crisis is caused
by the uninsured and that everyone had a right to health care. Under the Patients' Choice Act the
American people keeps their freedom whether to have health care or not, but the ACA has a personal
mandate that requires individuals to buy or carry health care insurance or face a fine (tax). To fund
ACA will cost more than freedom, it'll cost the individual American people and the government
more money than The Patients' Choice Act. The American people need affordable health care but not
under government control. The Patients' Choice Act was introduced by U.S. congressman Paul Ryan
in 2009. Ryan's plan was to give control to individuals and doctors about health care decisions, not
federal government bureaucrats or insurance companies. The Patients' Choice Act would remove the
barriers that separate Americans from high–value health care by enhancing individual purchasing
power and creating rational government rules (1). He wanted to create a market that played by the
rules and make health care affordable. Ryan believe that the plan would have ensured universal,

Health Care Reform : The Analysis Of Healthcare Reform
The Analysis of Healthcare Reform
The complexity of health care could take the rates on a massive trajectory that does not favor the
people covered. Therefore, the financial protection that the levels of health insurance covers, help to
guard against the risks related to the unexpected costs of health care. The source of coverage could
still have an impact by the insurance coverage and financing alternatives that one has access to;
Conversely, private insurance, social insurance, and the national health services are the types of
healthcare systems by funding and provision. As we look to health care coverage and the reform of
Obamacare, I'll analyze the impact of the uninsured in the industry and look for a resolution to
improve the ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
There are providers, of public hospitals community and rural health centers, and local health
department considered to be safety net providers that service the uninsured. But the result of
increased demand has caused limited capacity and decreased treatment options due to eroding
finances (KFF, 2013). In order to improve the well beings of Americans, it is imperative to establish
a health care policy that will deliver comprehensive coverage for all.
Therefore, a universal health care plan would be one recommendation, a course of action is to utilize
the telemedicine doctors which is becoming more prevalent; As the demand grows there would be
more than enough tele–doctors available for care. Another recommendation is to also use the Urgent
Care centers as part of the universal healthcare system. The reason for these healthcare entities is
because of the current structure; Provided, they are in place to deliver care at a more economical
rate, than if you went to a hospital's emergency room. Every American would be responsible for
paying a minuscule amount toward the universal health care plan. Granted not everyone gets sick
enough to need care, so its services should not be overworked; However, these entities should be
used for preventive measures. Once tax deductions begin for the contributors, there needs to be a
database set up to monitor

Health care reform in the United States is a vital issue. Over the years, multiple Presidents have
attempted to address reform but significant political obstacles have prevented any major change
since the Social Security Act which established Medicaid and Medicare in 1965 (Kaiser Family
Foundation [KFF], 2009). On March 23, 2010, President Barack Obama signed into law The Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA). The premise of this legislation was to increase access to
care by allowing more Americans to gain access to coverage and to impact the rising cost of
healthcare in the country. After its implementation, between one and three million Americans ages
18 – 26 gained access to health insurance through coverage eligibility ... Show more content on
Helpwriting.net ...
There are four categories of quality measures used in pay–for–performance: process measures,
outcome measures, patient experience, and structure measures. Process measures evaluate activities
which positively affect health outcomes for patients. Outcome measures determine the effects the
care provided have on the patient. Patient experience encompasses the patients' satisfaction with the
services received. Structure measures evaluate the equipment used by facilities, as well as the
personnel employed by the facilities (James, 2012).
As of 2016, expenditures for hospital readmissions were estimated at twelve billion dollars a year
(Mason et al., 2016). These costs are many times unnecessary and avoidable. Medicare's Hospital
Readmissions Reduction Program can reduce payments by one percent to hospitals for readmissions
for heart attacks, heart failure, or pneumonia in disproportionate amounts (James, 2012). It also will
reward the hospitals that exceed the expectations set forth. The wide–ranging changes to healthcare
policy impelled hospitals to discover other avenues for mitigating financial risks associated with the
new policy. Patient coordination and discharge planning have become central to patient care. Case
managers utilize medical homes, home care,

Health Care Reform In America
Many Americans believe that their health care system is the finest in North America, and probably
among the best in the world. This is not true. The American health care system ranked last out of 10
other developed countries' systems, including Australia, Germany, Canada, France, Sweden, New
Zealand, Norway, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, in a survey by the
Commonwealth Fund in 2014 (Hellmann). Countries received ranks according to several factors,
like access to a physician or quality of care (Hellmann). That same year, an estimated 42 million
Americans under age 65 were without health insurance, according to a survey by the Congressional
Budget Office ("Health Reform"). America also ranks 26th among 36 countries in the ... Show more
content on Helpwriting.net ...
Recall that preventable illnesses like diabetes and heart disease cause 7 out of 10 deaths in America
("Health Reform"). Also, preventative care can help a patient avoid the top 9 out of the 10 leading
causes of death in America (Fox and Shaw 1). In fact, proper and recommended preventive care
services could save an estimated 100,000 American lives (Fox and Shaw 1). Unfortunately, only 3%
of America's gargantuan healthcare expenditures goes toward preventive care–while America spends
a ridiculous 75% of those expenditures treating preventable diseases ("Health Reform"). The
necessity of preventive care is obvious, which is why the ACA mandated that, by 2018, all health
insurance plans include coverage for preventive care services (Riggin 31). Currently, the ACA
requires a large amount of health insurance plans to cover preventive services without charging a
deductible or copay (Fox and Shaw 1). Additionally, individuals who became eligible and enrolled
in Medicaid because of the ACA expansion will have access to a large selection of preventive
services, and will not pay copays or deductibles for certain services deemed "essential" (Fox and
Shaw 2). The Affordable Care Act will continue to make preventive care services standard in
insurance plans, yet another reason to continue its

Health Care Reform
Healthcare Reform 1 Healthcare Reform: Moving Closer to a Solution English 102–940 Professor
Marilyn December 1, 2007 December 1, 2007 Professor Marilyn Sahiba Department of English and
Critical Studies Parkland College Champaign, IL 61821 Dear Professor Sahiba, I am pleased to
present to you my final research paper on Health Care Reform: Moving Closer To A Solution, the
topic for which was approved by you on November 8, 2007. I acquired most of my research material
from the Parkland College Library, and internet sources found through the search engine, Google.
There was a wealth of information available to use in order for me to write a convincing paper on ...
Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
(Martinez, 2, p.9). Healthcare Reform 4 The World Health Organization ranks the United States as
#37 out of 190 for performance. It is evident that even though we are spending more money, we are
not able to achieve the desired outcome. The argument has always been that the free market of
health care and insurance in this country has created a health care system that is second to none in
the world. The statistics do not support this assertion. Total health care spending in 1975 consumed
about 8 percent of the U.S economy in 1975. Today it accounts for nearly 16 percent of the gross
domestic product and is projected to reach nearly 20 percent by 2016 (Orszag, 2007). One of the
reasons for rising health care costs is due to costly new medical technologies. Some of these new
medical advancements allow for physicians to treat previously untreatable conditions. It is unclear
as to whether these new options are cost effective. Most people believe that more expensive care
equates to better health care. There is significant evidence to support that more expensive care does
not necessarily mean higher–quality care. This suggests that there may be an opportunity to reduce
health care spending without impairing outcomes The most compelling evidence of that opportunity
comes from the substantial geographic differences in spending on health care within the United
States–and the fact that they do not translate into higher life expectancy or measured

The On Health Care Reform
The idea of passing the health care reform was to expand health care coverage, however, in order to
do so, many changes must be implemented in order to fulfill the ACA 's promises. The first of which
is allowing all individuals to acquire health insurance no matter the age, pre–existing conditions, or
other unfair practices. Statistics show that "half of Americas" have a preexisting medical condition
in which with the passage of the ACA, it allows individuals to acquire health insurance without the
worry of having to pay high insurance bills (Moisse, 2011). The reason why having preexisting
health conditions is no longer a factor in acquiring health insurance is because with the passage of
the ACA (as discussed earlier, it was made a mandate to acquire health insurance) it is expected that
it will balance out economically with the people who require more medical help to their healthier
counterparts that do not require as much medical attention (Goodnough, 2016).
The ACA has Americans searching for a health insurance company, however, not everyone can
afford one. This makes it an issue on whether it is possible to enforce such statute if insurance is not
accessible for all. The solution brought about with Obamacare was the creation of subsidies. The
first form of cost assistance is the use of premium tax credits which lowers premiums. Just as
Medicaid, tax credits depend upon income in which the lower your income the lower the percentage
you will have to pay towards health

Affordable Health Care Reform

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