Name
Western Governors University
D223 Healthcare Policy and Economics
Prof. Name
Date
What is one federal public healthcare enacted law that affects patient care and healthcare delivery?
One of the most influential federal laws impacting patient care and healthcare delivery in the United States is the Affordable Care Act (ACA), passed in 2010. The ACA brought sweeping reforms aimed at expanding health insurance coverage, improving the quality of care, and reducing overall healthcare costs. Its comprehensive design sought to make healthcare more accessible and equitable, reshaping the way care is provided to patients across the country.
How does the Affordable Care Act work?
The ACA operates through several essential components. It mandates that most Americans have health insurance coverage, provides subsidies to help low-income individuals afford insurance, and creates health insurance marketplaces to simplify plan selection. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) primarily administer and enforce the law. These agencies ensure insurers and healthcare providers comply with regulations, manage enrollment, and uphold the standards that align with the ACA’s objectives.
What is the legislation’s impact on various populations?
| Population Group | Benefits | Negative Impacts | Effect on Health Disparities and Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-income individuals | Expanded access to insurance and preventive services | Some faced increased premiums based on income | Helped reduce disparities by improving healthcare access |
| Elderly | Expanded Medicaid coverage for long-term care | Complexity in plan options sometimes caused confusion | Enhanced equity by covering previously uninsured seniors |
| Small businesses | Access to more affordable group insurance plans | Additional regulatory costs and administrative burdens | Mixed effects depending on business size and resources |
| Uninsured individuals | Significant reduction in uninsured rates | Penalties for non-compliance with the individual mandate | Improved health equity by broadening insurance coverage |
The ACA has successfully broadened healthcare access, especially for marginalized groups, though it also introduced challenges such as increased costs for certain businesses and complexities for some individuals in complying with its mandates.
What evidence supports the Affordable Care Act?
Research demonstrates the ACA’s positive impact on healthcare coverage and outcomes. Sommers et al. (2017) reported a significant increase in insurance coverage and improvements in self-reported health among low-income adults after the ACA was implemented. These findings highlight the law’s effectiveness in expanding access and fostering greater health equity across diverse populations (Sommers, Gunja, Finegold, & Musco, 2017).
What is one state public healthcare enacted law affecting patient care and healthcare delivery?
The California End of Life Option Act (EOLOA), enacted in 2016, is a notable example of state legislation that influences patient care. This law allows terminally ill patients to request and self-administer medications to hasten death, granting them greater autonomy over their end-of-life decisions. EOLOA significantly impacts patient care by offering a legal, compassionate option for patients facing terminal illnesses.
How does the California End of Life Option Act function?
EOLOA establishes strict eligibility requirements and procedural safeguards to maintain ethical and legal standards. Eligible patients must be diagnosed with a terminal illness by two physicians and voluntarily consent to the medication. The California Department of Public Health oversees the law’s implementation, monitors compliance, and collects related data. Healthcare providers who participate must adhere to precise regulations to ensure legal and ethical adherence.
What is the legislation’s impact on different populations?
| Population Group | Benefits | Negative Impacts | Effect on Health Disparities and Equity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Terminally ill patients | Greater control over end-of-life decisions | Potential moral or religious conflicts | Enhances patient autonomy; limited effect on disparities |
| Healthcare providers | Legal clarity for administering aid-in-dying | Ethical dilemmas and possible conflicts with personal beliefs | May affect provider-patient relationships |
| Families | Reduction in prolonged suffering for loved ones | Emotional and ethical stress | Neutral effect on health disparities |
While EOLOA empowers terminally ill patients with greater control, it also raises complex ethical questions for families and healthcare professionals.
What evidence supports the California End of Life Option Act?
Studies like Ganzini et al. (2019) provide evidence that patients who utilize aid-in-dying laws experience improved peace of mind and effective symptom control without increased depression or anxiety. These results validate EOLOA’s role in improving the quality of life for patients nearing the end of life (Ganzini, Harvath, Jackson, & Goy, 2019).
How do nurses contribute to healthcare policy development, administration, and revision?
Nurses have a crucial role in shaping healthcare policy due to their frontline involvement with patient care and advocacy. Their contributions span three main areas:
Development: Nurses identify clinical care gaps, assess patient needs, and collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to create patient-centered policies aimed at improving health outcomes.
Administration: Nurses in leadership ensure policies are implemented effectively, monitoring adherence to standards and addressing operational challenges.
Revision: Through ongoing evaluation of clinical outcomes and feedback from practice, nurses advocate for necessary policy adjustments to improve safety and care quality.
Nurses serve as a vital bridge between clinical realities and policy, influencing healthcare delivery both at the organizational and broader systemic levels.
What barriers hinder nurses’ engagement in healthcare policy?
| Policy Area | Barriers to Nurse Engagement |
|---|---|
| Development | Limited time, insufficient policy education, lack of leadership roles |
| Administration | Hierarchical structures, resistance to change, limited resources |
| Revision | Minimal involvement in decision-making, absence of feedback channels |
Despite these obstacles, nurse involvement in policy remains essential to ensure healthcare practices reflect actual patient needs and clinical realities.
How will you engage with healthcare policy in your future nursing practice?
In my nursing career, I plan to actively engage in healthcare policy by:
Keeping abreast of emerging health issues and evidence-based research.
Participating in interdisciplinary committees and quality improvement projects.
Advocating for policies that promote equitable patient care.
Collaborating with policymakers and educating peers about the importance of healthcare policy in practice.
By doing so, I aim to contribute meaningfully to policies that improve patient outcomes and overall healthcare quality.
Ganzini, L., Harvath, T. A., Jackson, A., & Goy, E. R. (2019). Experiences of Oregon nurses and social workers with hospice patients who requested aid in dying. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 57(2), 247-254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.10.005
Sommers, B. D., Gunja, M. Z., Finegold, K., & Musco, T. (2017). Changes in self-reported insurance coverage, access to care, and health under the Affordable Care Act. JAMA, 314(4), 366-374. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.8421
