Stage 3: The Future and Goal The final step in the process of implementing a nationwide EHR system is Stage 3, which is set to be in full development by 2018. On February 14, 2014 the ONC meaningful use workgroup submitted recommendations for the implementation of Stage 3 meaningful use incentive program to the Health IT policy Committee, however their findings have not been published to date. This will result in the Policy Committee approving recommendations in mid 2015 the Health and Human Services Department to develop the final rules. There are several proposals in place but the leading one that has emerged would have hospitals and providers use a six priority decision matrix that would include preventative care, disease management, …show more content…
The ACA influences the patient or consumer the access to regain control of the individual’s own healthcare needs, and provides security in the access to reclaim such care. When looking at the Affordable Care Act, an individual can look more directly into three subcategories: Coverage, Costs, and Care. Coverage identifies and expands coverage to the individual and/or families. This includes but is not limited to:
1. Ending pre-existing conditions for Children, where health plans may not deny or limit a child under the age of 19 due to a pre-existing condition.
2. Young adults under the age of 26 may be eligible to remain of parent’s health care plan. I adult under the age of 32 is eligible for a catastrophic plan to reduce health care costs when they are deemed physically fit.
3. A health insurance plan can no longer cancel coverage due to honest mistakes.
4. A patient may now appeal the right for a health insurance plan in its refusal to deny payment
The ACA looks in the direction of costs and insures that a healthcare plan is affordable based on your own needs, this includes:
1. Expanding and insuring access to Medicaid or a Qualified Health Plan (QHP) based on annual income
2. Ends lifetime limits on individual QHP
3. An insurance company must justify any rate increases
4. Premium costs must be utilized in healthcare needs, and not unjustifiable
Medicaid is a social health care program that covers nearly 60 million Americans, including children, pregnant women, seniors, parents and individuals suffering with disabilities. Medicaid is the biggest source of funding for health related services and medical needs for the people with low income in the United States. This program is funded jointly by the state and federal level governments, but it is the state’s responsibility to manage this program. The Medicaid program is not a required program that states have to use, but all 50 states have implemented this program. With the introduction of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and its passing in 2010, the ACA unveiled its plans to expand Medicaid eligibility to nearly all low-income adults as an addition to the other groups that fall into the Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid program had “many gaps in coverage for adults” because it was only restricted to the low income individuals and other people with needs in their own specific category. In the past, the majority of the states who had adults that did not have children dependent on those parents were not eligible for Medicaid. These low income adults without dependent children would be without medical insurance assistance before the ACA was introduced. Medicaid is now available to all Americans under the age of 65 whose family income is at or below the federal poverty guideline of “133 percent or $14,484 for an individual and $29,726 for a family of four in 2011” (NSCL).
The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare or ACA, is the health reform law enacted in 2010 by Congress. The official name of this reform is the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Many provisions of the law are already in effect and the rest are going to continue to develop until 2022. After a year of intense political wrangling, the health reform initiative was passed by Congress. Even though it falls short of providing universal coverage, it is unlike the Clinton proposal. The Affordable Care Act was intended to expand US citizens’ and legal residents’ access to health insurance coverage, control future costs, and improve the functioning of the healthcare delivery system. It improves access to care and balances spending through regulations and taxes. Healthcare has always been a crisis in the US and the Affordable Care Act contains hundreds of different provisions that address these aspects. The Affordable Care Act increases the quality of health insurance at an affordable price so all Americans can have access to it. In exchange, most people who can afford to obtain health coverage must by 2014 or pay a per month fee. The ACA offers Americans a number of new benefits. It sets up a Health Insurance Marketplace where we can purchase federally regulated and subsidized Health Insurance during open enrollment. It expands Medicaid to all adults in many states, as well as improving Medicare for seniors and those with long term disabilities. Obamacare expands
While the Affordable Care Act was implemented in 2010, the most significant changes in the healthcare system began in 2013 with the expansion of Medicaid. According to the ACA’s official website, the law’s main goals are to create cost efficient health insurance and medical services, as well as expand Medicaid so that the stated programs will be available to more Americans. (“Affordable Care Act (ACA)”). To do so, the ACA imposed many requirements on both sides of the health care system. The ACA has expanded federal regulations on private insurance providers by requiring that these companies cannot deny coverage based on the health of the beneficiary. The ACA has also established a marketplace for health insurance to be purchased by small businesses and individuals. Finally, the most noteworthy reform is the requirement for all Americans to purchase minimum coverage, or pay a penalty. However, those who cannot afford coverage and have “an income below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level eligible for Medicaid” will be paid for by the government (“The Affordable Care Act in the US”).
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), expands the access to health insurance coverage primarily for those who fall through the cracks of the private and public
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 Affordable Healthcare Act makes healthcare and health insurance more affordable and more available to more Americans. It is able to do this by new consumer protections, rules and regulations on the healthcare industry. This is shown when creating a marketplace for subsidized insurance, and reforming and expanding public healthcare programs. These include Medicare and Medicaid. This act can also include measures to cut the growth in healthcare spending in the United States.
Prior to the law, insurers dictated who received coverage and were able to rescind or deny coverage to consumers. The Affordable Care Act includes a Patient Bill of Rights, a provision protecting consumers from the worst abuses of the insurance industry. It allows consumers to compare health insurance coverage options and pick the coverage that works for them. Because of the act, middle and low-income families are offered tax credits that cover a significant portion of the cost of coverage. The law also prohibits insurance companies from denying or unjustly limiting coverage to their consumers.
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is legislation signed into law by the Obama Administration in 2010 and is gradually becoming implemented over several years. As of 2014 the ACA is requiring nearly every American to have an approved level of health insurance or pay a penalty. The required insurance coverage includes nearly 34 million Americans who are currently or were previously uninsured and is subsidized mainly through Medicaid and Health Insurance Exchanges that will completely or partially pay for coverage. The ACA goes beyond requirements for the individual by including extensive requirements on the health insurance industry and several regulations on the practice of medicine.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), officially called The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and sometimes called Obamacare, is a US healthcare reform law that expands and improves access to care and curbs spending through regulations
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) set out to radically change the American health care system, bringing coverage to Americans who would otherwise be disqualified for several reasons whether it be loss of coverage from employer, parents or pre-existing health conditions. The second major initiative is strengthening Medicare with emphasizing resources and coverage for preventive health care. All feeding into the umbrella
Even with employer coverage and the expansion of Medicaid, many Americans would still not be covered if the ACA had not offered a new way to buy insurance individually. This new way is called a health insurance marketplace where private insurers compete for individuals business. This allows people to decide how much coverage they want as well as how much they want to pay for it. For example, choices range from cheaper, high deductible coverage, to more expensive coverage. Still, all plans cover a set of services, such as hospital visits, maternity care, prescription drugs, and mental healthcare.
The ACA has several important expanded coverage features. Most notably, the new law keeps young adults, 26 years of age and younger, on their parent’s health insurance plan. This particular aspect of the reform allowed up to 3 million young adults to remain covered on their parent’s plan which mean 3 million more people had access to primary care, urgent care, and medication. This was a huge increase from 2010 in which 30% of young Americans between the ages of 19 and 29 had no health insurance coverage. (ObamaCare Young Adults. 2010). Additional features of increased coverage under the ACA was the
The ACA requires insurers to accept all applicants, cover certain conditions, and charge the same rates despite one 's sex or pre-existing health status. There are ten provisions that make up the ACA which were to be implemented over time, from 2010 through 2020. The first provision is individual insurance, which prohibits insurers to deny coverage based on one 's pre existing health conditions. States were also required to make insurance available to children who are not insured through their families. Medicaid was also expanded to include individuals and families with an average income of thirty thousand dollars a year. This mandate will not cover those who are illegal immigrants, eligible individuals who choose to not be enrolled in medicaid, those who choose to pay the penalty, individuals whose insurance would cost more than 8% of their income, and those who live in states that opt out of the medicaid expansion.
for their own health care. This piece puts in plain words that insurance companies cannot deny or limit coverage for children under the age of 19. Additionally children are able to covered under their parent policies until the age of 26. In like manner, the new law bans lifetime limits on individual coverage. As well as, insurance companies are required to justify any premium increases of 10% or more prior to any chances. Other benefits include, yearly wellness check and preventive care is to be provided at no cost to qualified individuals. Uniquely the consumers chooses their own doctors
“61% agreed that young adults should be allowed to remain on the parents ' insurance plans up to 26 years of age.” Many Americans supported this feature because there are many young adults who are not financially stabled and needs to still be dependent on their parents. Young adults should not be obligated to apply for their own health insurance. However, it is allowed if one chooses to do so.