Improving Access For Preventative Health Services

“The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Implications for Public Health Policy and Practice.” Public Health Reports. Association of Schools of Public Health. n.d. Web. 14 July 2015. This paper claims that the PPACA will cut the number of uninsured Americans in half. The act attempts to provide nearly universal coverage and improve the quality and equity of said coverage through reforms to insurance standards and the marketplace. It also attempts to improve the quality of healthcare and the efficiency of its delivery by allowing consumers to edge the system into a more integrated state and measuring performance. It attempts to encourage preventive medicine by targeting chronic illnesses and funding community-based medicine. These changes will bring huge opportunities for improvement in the system, many of which are subtle and nuanced and will only be seen as the plan rolls into act over the next few

It is no secret that the cost of American healthcare is becoming increasingly more expensive. However, the issue of the rising cost of healthcare and its severity needs to be recognized as a major problem. Health prices are steadily increasing in the United States, and there is no sign of it stopping. Since 1970, spending on American health care has grown 9.8%, which is a rate that is growing faster than the economy (“New Technology”.) Furthermore, health insurance premiums are also increasing at a rate five times faster than American salaries, which makes it difficult for families to afford health care coverage (Zuckerman 28). Therefore, it has become an obligation to address why the cost of American health care is soaring and to seek out a solution to lower the cost. Many would jump to the conclusion that the United States simply charges too much for their medical services, but there are deeper influences that need to be analyzed. The causes of the rising cost of health care are people not using preventive health care, the development of modern technology, and the treatments being overprescribed. A possible solution is to have preventive health care services available in clinics of low-income areas.

Americans have been faced with a new health care reform act known as Affordable Care Act initiated in 2010. Why was it so important for this nation to reform is health care system? How are we sure the ACA is improving our system for the American people? For many years, the health care industry has left many Americans uninsured. With health care costs on the rise and very few able to afford costs, and the quality of care in underserved areas not what it should be has left this nation largely unhealthy. Several landmark reports, including the Center for Disease Control factsheets and the Healthy People 2020 have astounding statistics confirming these alarming rates and clearly identifying the need for reform. The Affordable Care Act is the starting foundation for Americans to start investing in their own promotion of wellness and disease prevention. By choosing healthier lifestyle changes, individuals can make a difference which in turn will improve our nation’s overall health for the better.

Recently the Untied States top priority has been to provide accessible and affordable health care to every American. Those that lack access to coverage find it much more difficult to seek proper treatment and when they do they maybe left with astronomical medical bills. The CommanWealth Fund found that one-third or thirty three percent of Americans forgo health care because of costs and one-fifth or twenty percent are thus left with medical bills that have problems being able to pay. The federal government, through the Affordable Care Act (2010), has mandated that every person have health coverage in order

In a survey conducted in 2003, it highlighted that the recurrent problem is the reimbursement rate from Medicaid to the physician (O’Shea, 2007). The Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC) show that 21% of physicians that state they accept Medicaid have reported they will not accept a new Medicaid patient in 2004-2005(O’Shea, 2007). This number would only logically be assumed to have risen in 2013 A survey conducted by the U.S. National Health reported that researchers have found two standout trends among Medicaid beneficiaries: they have more difficulty getting primary care and specialty care and they visit hospital emergency departments more often than those with private insurance (Seaberg, 2012). The lack of primary and specialty care access is mostly contributed to the following barriers; unable to reach the MD by phone, not having a timely appointment with the MD and lastly unable to find a specialty MD that will accept Medicaid. In a recent report released by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, it stated that about 30% of Medicaid patients experience “extreme uncoordinated care”, there is a strong correlation between this situation and higher Medicaid spending and less quality of care given (Bush, 2012). After January 1st 2013, healthcare providers have experienced a 2% reduction in payments for Medicaid beneficiary, this will only create more of a problem for these patients to seek the

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a radical healthcare reform that aims to provide affordable, quality healthcare for all US citizens. This increased scope of coverage would allow millions more of Americans to use the system. In order to drive down costs from many more individuals, the ACA has planned to increase incentives for preventative public health interventions including primary care physicians. Although this is a fine beginning, I believe the greatest challenge to the long-term success of this reform remains the shift in mindset from a focus in treatment to an equal focus in prevention. Preventative services are vital to a healthcare system. However, the effects of prevention are often long term, and thus are traditionally underappreciated by those who have the disease being prevented. Individuals with the disease also undervalue prevention, as it does not affect their health state. With this mindset, prevention is undermined and will continue to be a challenge for the progression of the ACA.

“For over 60 years, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been dedicated to protecting health and promoting quality of life through the prevention and control of disease, injury, and disability,” (CDC, 2012, p. 1). The organization has a focus of decreasing the health and economic disadvantages of the principal reasons of demise and incapacity through diverse programs, thus safeguarding an extended, prolific, vigorous life for people, (CDC, 2012). This paper will expound on The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and it is enhancement to the fundamental operations

This article discusses about the impact of Medicare coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). In 2011, the Medicare coverage was expanded to fully cover preventive care visits; the annual wellness visit for the Medicare beneficiaries (Chung et al., 2015). The wide range of preventive services such as a review of the patient’s medical and family history; the measurement and recording of biometrics such as blood pressure and body-mass index; screening for cognitive impairment, depression, functional ability, and level of safety; planning end-of-life care; and education, counseling, and referrals for other personalized preventive services are covered under the annual wellness visit. Chung and colleagues conducted a study to determine the use of preventive care visits among older adults, who live in the Northern California. They looked at the data from 2007 through 2013, to assess the utilization of preventive services before and after the expansion among the Medicare fee-for service; also known as Medicare Part B enrollees. In addition, the usage among Medicare Part B enrollees were compared with the Medicare health maintenance organization (HMO) plan; also known as Medicare Advantage and private insurance.

Overall healthcare quality has been improve the overall health of the population under these insurance plans candidates receive free preventative care. With many preventative treatments available it’s essential for healthcare field to shift from treating chronic disease to taking preventative measures beforehand. These programs has been able to improve the financial status of the Medicaid and Medicare programs by creating awareness among enrollees of the importance of preventive health and reduce the impact of obesity.

Every individual in the world deserves to enjoy health and wellness. Maintaining or achieving proper health needs enables individuals to be productive at work and leisure. Traditionally, many people have had barriers obtaining adequate healthcare due to economic constraints or personal inconveniences. Despite impressive technological advances in medicine, the challenge of delivering quality healthcare to the Americans continues to be debated amongst the nation’s political and healthcare leaders. The aging baby-boomers and the increased number of uninsured people add to the equation of population growth which results in limited access to primary healthcare for the entire public. On the

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has established objective to meet the demands on the PPACA. Each of these objectives will show how the recommendation from the previous section align with the initiative of the ACA. Of first recommendation cover the control and lowering of health care cost. We see in objective D that the goal is to reduce the growth of healthcare cost while promoting high-value, effective care. This objective is meet through the ACA market reforms to individual and in business that ensure access to quality patient care. The law implemented reforms that gave consumers leverage when purchasing insurance. These initiative also rewarded physician that delivery high quality, efficient and well coordinated care. More over, the Federal Coordinated Health Care Office was established to improve coordination between state and federal to ensure full access to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries (). The Performance goal include reducing readmission rate for Medicare

It doesn't only affect the health of the patient, but the overall cost of the system. Preventative medicine only cost a fraction of a full blown disease, which means it would still cost a lot for a patient to deal with in the end. (Messerli) Thinking about this, it shows that if the preventative care of testing would lower the cost of the medical bills. But also, how would they pay for the bills in the first place? Both preventative care cost and the overall cost without getting the care would equal out, because the patient couldn't pay for it either way. It would just put them in debt.

With cost effectiveness and money saving seemingly being a keystone of health care in the United States, low cost preventative health care and screening programs are at the forefront of budgetary meetings in government agencies and boardrooms across the nation. According to a 2010 study of the cost effectiveness of preventive care, there is a possibility of savings of $3.7 Billion if current programs could increase use to around 90 %(Maciosek, et. al., 2010). While cost will always be a consideration, there obviously is the human element that must be addressed at the ground level. Inspiring people to use government or state funded programs is no easy task as the people who are not using them are the ones who need the programs the most(Dryden, et. al. 2012). Below is an exploration of some successful and unsuccessful programs, and some ideas on improving use of these programs by the people who need them the most.

Mercifully, access to health insurance has undergone much-needed revision since the implementation of the ACA, eliminating the lack of access for families to secure a quality health care package. Without a doubt, the citizen’s most affected by these changes presented by this legislation are of low-income households. These families may newly qualify for free or subsidized health insurance through the Health Insurance Exchange (Thompson). Expansions provided to Medicaid through Obama Care has unblocked access to free services including but not limited to, wellness programs and preventative care. Health care policies must also include access to outpatient services, chronic care, emergency services and many more services (Miller). Therefore, providing families with the greatest need access to care for the first time while offering access to preventive care to keep our families healthy.

Prevention is one of the key ways one can reduce cost in health care for reason that informing others on how eating healthy, exercising regularly, and receiving preventive services such as cancer screenings, preventive visits and vaccinations can be ways for people to stay healthy. (CDC). A preventive service, such as HIV infection prevention, is estimated to save $355,000 in cost (Surgeon General). It has also been noted, that increasing the use of preventive services, that includes tobacco cessation screening and alcohol screening could save us 37 billion dollars annually in medical cost (Surgeon General). Aside from this, even simple recommendation from primary care physician to