Discussion 2
The Affordable Care Act and Health Care Outcomes and Costs
The 2010 Affordable Care Act (ACA) introduced numerous provisions that have aided and strengthened healthcare results and reduced spending. The most significant effects on the United States healthcare system have been the expansion of Medicaid coverage, the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, and the emphasis on preventive care. Collectively, they assist in ensuring better access to care, better health outcomes, and cost savings.
One of the most successful ACA provisions was the Medicaid expansion. The ACA provided for states to expand coverage to Medicaid-eligible individuals up to 138% of the federal poverty level. Research has demonstrated that Medicaid expansion has led to greater insurance coverage and improved health status in low-income populations. report that states that expanded Medicaid eligibility perceived reduced mortality, better chronic disease management, and greater availability of primary health care services. Moreover, Medicaid expansion has led to cost savings via the reduction of hospital expenses associated with uncompensated care. Since more individuals are covered, hospitals have had fewer financial losses due to treating individuals with no coverage who are unable to pay.
The Affordable Care Act and Health Care Outcomes and Costs
The second major provision of the ACA was establishing health insurance markets in which persons are able to shop and purchase insured plans with subsidies. The markets have made persons who are below the Medicaid eligibility limit but who are required to be supported financially in a position to purchase health insurance. Mellor presented evidence that subsidies provided under ACA markets increased insurance coverage, as well as improved access to major health care. Additionally, by having insurance companies compete with each other, the markets helped contain premium increases, keeping all costs of the overall healthcare system in balance.
Preventive care services mandated by ACA are instrumental in enhancing health outcomes and reducing expenses. The ACA compels health providers to provide preventive services such as vaccination, cancer screening, and check-ups without billing the patients directly. With early prevention and diagnosis, these policies correlate with reduced occurrences of long-term illnesses as well as healthcare expenditure on them. Erick add that increased availability of preventive care has helped with the achievement of early intervention and diagnosis, making patients not experience huge amounts associated with emergency care as well as hospital admission. The revolution of a reactive into a proactive health system, besides improving patient health, alleviates health schemes from financial burden too.
The Affordable Care Act and Health Care Outcomes and Costs
Furthermore, ACA has levied value-based models of care such as Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs), in which providers work with greater concentration towards the supply of quality care services instead of quantity. Such models compel providers to shift their focus to the delivery of better care, more integrated services, avoiding unnecessary services, and the establishment of meaningful patient performance measures. Ercia et al. (2021) argue that value-based payment models have ensured improved care and less expenditure, thus accruing benefits for both patients and providers.
In conclusion, the ACA has enhanced health care outcomes and contained expenses by increasing Medicaid, insurance markets, preventive services mandates, and value-based medical systems. Together, they have enhanced the treatment availability framework, healthier patients, and sustainable fiscal health care system. APA APA