Question

The Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Many of the provisions of the law directly affect health care providers. Review the following topic materials:

Key Features of the Affordable Care Act

Health Care Transformation: the Affordable Care Act and More

What are the most important elements of the Affordable Care Act in relation to community and public health? What is the role of the nurse in implementing this law?

Answer 1

Affordable Care Act:

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare also known as a Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and it was effected by March-23-2010 and other important provisions phased by january 2014. The PPACA has changed health care because it shows the significant regulatory overhaul of the healthcare system of U.S.A since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965. The Affordable Care Act’s main focus is on providing more Americans with access to affordable health insurance, improving the quality of health care and health insurance, regulating the health insurance industry, and reducing health care spending in the US.

After the passing of the PPACA health care in America changed into below ways:

1. Health insurance quality improves, so Americans now have to purchase health insurance.

2. Affordability increased.

3. More than 16 million Americans who lacked health insurance now have it.

4. Lower the uninsured rate by expanding insurance coverage

5. Medicaid expanded in only about half the country

6. Reduce the costs of healthcare.

The Affordable Care Act does lots of important services including:

Offering Americans a number of new benefits, rights, and protections in regards to their healthcare

Setting up a Health Insurance Marketplace where Americans can purchase federally regulated and subsidized Health Insurance during open enrollment.

Expanding Medicaid to all adults in many states.

Improving Medicare for seniors and those with long-term disabilities.

Expanding employer coverage to millions of employees.

Requiring most people to have coverage each month from 2014 in order to get an exemption, or pay a fee.

And introducing new taxes and tax breaks, among other provisions.

Benefits of the Affordable Care Act for Americans :

Improving Quality and Lowering Health Care Costs:Free preventive care,Prescription discounts for seniors,Protection against health care fraud, Small Business Tax Credits

New Consumer Protections: Pre-existing conditions,Consumer Assistance,Access to Health Care ,Health Insurance Marketplace.

Benefits for Women: Providing insurance option,Covering preventive services, Lowering costs

Young Adult Coverage: Coverage available to children up to age 26

Strengthening Medicare:Yearly Wellness Visit, Many Free Preventive Services for some seniors with Medicare

Holding Insurance Companies Accountable,Insurers must justify any premium increase of 10% or more before the rate takes effect

The law like before was Medicare and Medicaid. The Medicaid is a supporting programs which cover those families or individual who have no income. On the other hand a Medicare is an insurance program which cover seniour citizens ages 65,disabled people who qualify for some socialsecurity.
References:
More Features of the Affordable Care Act. www.hhs.gov/healthcare/facts-and-features/key-features-of-aca-by-year/index.htm

Whitman, E. Obamacare Anniversary: 5 Ways the Affordable Care Act Changed Healthcare.
International Business Times. 2015