Module 21

.docx

School

Purdue University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

63200

Subject

Health Science

Date

Dec 6, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by chang541

This module will provide you with background and insight into recent changes to healthcare policy and our modern structure. It begins with an overview of the Affordable Care Act in Chapter 7. Some of you may remember or be aware of details of the congressional negotiation that were not mentioned in the text. It is important to note as you read the timeline of the passage of this bill that the bill itself was 906 pages of legislative legalese and it is likely that very few, if any, legislators were familiar with all of it. Also note that when legislative programs are evaluated for cost, they include the cost for a three year period. One of the reasons that Medicaid expansion was not planned until 2014 is so that the cost would not be included in the evaluation of the bill. Health Reform by the Numbers (website) will provide you with some of the population metrics that demonstrate the need for reform and the number of people without access to healthcare insurance. Consider this: is insurance the only barrier for people to access healthcare? What other barriers may exist? This will be further discussed later in the semester. Many people believe that the ACA provided the first protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) passed in 1996 also provided significant protections for people with pre-existing conditions. The primary difference is that HIPPA tied coverage to pre-existing conditions to employer sponsored health insurance and required that people maintain their coverage through job changes. HIPPA also provided limits on exclusion of coverage for pre-existing conditions in employer provided insurance. Chapter 9 focuses on the economics of healthcare delivery. This chapter delves into market forces like supply and demand, insurance, and cost. After reading chapter 9, read It’s Still the Prices Stupid (Anderson et al., 2019) for a more in-depth discussion of cost and price setting in US healthcare. Also read the two very recent articles about corporate hospitals and hospital mergers. Most of you have likely worked in a corporate hospital, think about how this has affected the care you provide or internal policies. I would love to hear from anyone who worked in a hospital that was “bought out” and their experience. Chapter 10 provides a comprehensive overview of the development of private insurance in the US and the various types of coverage that have evolved. There is also a good discussion about the interface between private insurers and policy makers. There is also a minor mention of NPs and independent practice. NPs are often touted as a more cost-effective alternative to physicians, especially in primary care. For a more in-depth discussion about NPs and their role, read Nurse Practitioner Scope of Practice: What Do We Know and Where Do We Go? (Mark & Patel, 2019). The optional article Nurses as Substitutes for Doctors in Primary Care (Review) (Laurant et al. Cochrane Review, 2018) is the seminal work presentation of evidence that NPs can provide as good or better care than physicians in primary care settings. Lastly, the first section of Part 2 of the 8-Fold Path will provide you with guidance in identifying and contacting a legislator or policy influencer for your assignment in this module.

Discover more documents: Sign up today!

Unlock a world of knowledge! Explore tailored content for a richer learning experience. Here's what you'll get:

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help