Question

In your opinion, what health policy has had the greatest impact on health care in the United States? Why?

Answer 1

The Affordable Care Act is the most important health care legislation which is the creation of Medicare and Medicaid. The law implemented comprehensive reforms designed to improve the accessibility, affordability, and quality of health care.

To review the factors influencing the decision to pursue health reform, summarize evidence on the effects of the law to date, recommend actions that improve the health care system, and identify general lessons for public policy from the Affordable Care Act.

The Affordable Care Act became law, the uninsured rate has declined, primarily because of the law’s reforms. It has documented accompanying improvements in access to care and financial security.

The law has also begun the process of transforming health care payment systems, now flowing through alternative payment models of care organizations. These and related reforms have contributed to a sustained period of slow growth in health care spending and improvements in health care quality. The major opportunities to improve the health care system remain.

Policy makers have build on the progress made by the Affordable Care Act by continuing to implement the Health Insurance Market places and delivery system reform, increasing federal financial assistance for Market place, introducing a public plan option in areas lacking individual market competition, and taking actions to reduce prescription drug costs. Although special interest opposition remains and experience with the Affordable Care Act demonstrates that positive change is achievable.

Health care costs affect the economy, the federal budget, and virtually every family’s financial well being. Health insurance enables children to excel at school, adults to work more productively, and for all ages to live longer and have healthier lives. Health care costs had risen rapidly for decades, and millions were uninsured. Regardless of the political difficulties, it concluded comprehensive reform as it was necessary.

The result of the Affordable Care Act, has made substantial progress in addressing these challenges. The patients can now count on access to health coverage throughout their lives, and the government has an array of tools to bring the rise of health care costs under control.

The health care system was dominated fee for service payment systems, which often penalized health care organizations and health care professionals who find ways to deliver care more efficiently, while failing to reward those who improve the quality of care. It has changed the health care payment system in several important ways.

It included numerous policies to detect and prevent health care fraud, including increased scrutiny prior to enrollment in Medicare and Medicaid for health care entities that pose a high risk of fraud, stronger penalties for crimes involving losses and additional funding for antifraud efforts.

Many of them still strain to pay for their physician visits and prescriptions, cover their deductibles, or pay their monthly insurance bills; struggle to navigate a complex, sometimes bewildering system.

Firstly, many of the reforms introduced in recent years are still some years from reaching their maximum effect. With respect to the law’s coverage provisions, these early years experience demonstrate that it is a viable source of coverage.

Secondly, it has greatly improved the affordability of health insurance coverage, surveys indicate that many of the remaining uninsured individuals want coverage but still report being unable to afford it.

Thirdly, more can be done to enhance competition in the Market places. For the people in most places, the Market places are working. It supports the competition and has encouraged the entry of hospital based plans, Medicaid managed care plans, and other plans into new areas.

Fourthly, although it included policies to help prescription drug costs, like more substantial Medicaid rebates and the creation of a pathway for approval of biosimilar drugs, those costs remain a concern for, employers, and taxpayers.

There is an important role which should avoid moving backward on health reform. It has always been interested in improving the law and various signed bills that do just the administration which spent considerable time opposing attempts to repeal parts, that could have been better spent working to improve our health care system and economy.