The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 - Essay Example

? American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Task: American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 The role of the act in the provision of job opportunities was one of the initiating factors that prompted its formulation. The act is part of the economic recovery programs aimed at boost the country’s economic status (Wilson, 2010). This was after the realization that many American citizens still feel the impact of the economic recession and need programs to boost their economic status. The program also contributes to economic recovery by providing assistance to the portion of the population that still undergoes trough the impacts of the recession. The act also serves as a program to elevate economic efficiency through promotion of investments (Pollin & Baker, 2010). There are various avenues set to increase technological advancements in health and science are anchors of investments that promote economic efficiency. The act has several long-term investment initiatives. It promotes investments in transportation sector, a strategy aimed at raising the long-term benefits that accrue from investments in transport in the country. Investments in environmental protection programs are instrumental to increase the long-term economic benefits of such programs. Investment in other infrastructure in the country, as provided by the act, would increase the economy of the country. The government appreciates the need to ensure stability of state as well as local government budgets and its vitality in ensuring the economic progress and recovery after the effects of the recession. The act aims at ensuring such stability in an attempt to minimize and evade reductions in the provision of services that are essential to the citizens. It also promotes a high production from state and local taxes. The act offers a platform and initiative to support education by providing an approximate amount of a hundred billion dollars. It anchors the provision of funds aims at ensuring sustainability to states and school districts. The impacts of the economic crisis were extensive and prompted the intervention of the government in most countries. The American government, in concern for the welfare of its citizens, was responsive enough through long and short-term measures. Various economic avenues were reviewed to counter the spread of the economic crisis effects on both state and government operations including policy frameworks. The act was part of the various moves by the American government to respond to the crisis. In 13 February 2009, the Obama administration, though the congress, passed the act. It became lawful after its signing into law by the president, after four days from congress’ approval. There were three immediate intentions of forming the act. The need to create new employment opportunities for the American people, while maintaining the available job, was among the three key objectives of the act. The congress considered the high need to initiate intensive economic activities in the country. In addition to initiating high economic activities in the country, the congress identified long-term growth as key to the economic recovery in the country. Boosting investment for long-term growth was the second aim of the act. Transparency in spending is central in ensuring accountability in any institution. This rationale prompted the congress to device a legislation that would foster responsibility among state and local officials and institutions while undertaking government spending. The third objective of the act was to instill exceptional levels of transparency in the use of government resources. There were key functions and responsibilities that the act in achieving its objectives. The main responsibility of the act was the provision of seven hundred and eighty seven billion dollars that would drive its functions (Brostek, 2010). The amount was to be availed in three main facets. The first facet was in tax cuts as well as benefits. This was applicable for citizens in employment and business. The second was funding for various programs of entitlements for the citizens. Such programs include the unemployment benefits. The third was the funding for various federal activities. These include contracts, grants and all the loans of the federal government. Since its passing into law, the initial seven hundred and eighty seven increased to eight hundred and forty billion, in 2011. The increase was to ensure harmony with the 2012 budget and cater for diverse changes that came after the various recommendations of the congressional budget office. Timely and consistent reporting is among the major strategies set to ensure the achievement of the goal of transparency and accountability in the expenditures approved by officials and organizations at different levels. The funds’ recipients must submit detailed reports on expenditure on the months of January, April, July and October, as part of accountability and responsiveness. Another responsibility of the act is the allocation of direct financial help to local school districts. The responsibility of the act to increase child tax credit is of a central role, as well. Infrastructure development in America constitutes one of the greatest roles of the act, being instrumental in achieving recovery. Such programs, set in the act, that promote infrastructure development include weatherizing buildings under the ownership of the federal government and private homes. The act also funds several roads and bridges expansion and construction projects in America. Scientific research receives appreciated recognition for its role in development. The act funds several scientific researches in the country to spur and promote innovation and escalate the rate of recovery through diverse economic sectors. The act has direct impact on the American health sector operations and performance. Particular interest is on health information management that receives a boost from the provisions of the act. The application information technology in the management of health information is central in increasing overall efficiency in health care. The act recognizes the central role of health information technology in improving the efficiency of healthcare. Computerization of healthcare records is a key provision that the act aims to achieve. The enhancement of the use of technology to promote communication among various stakeholders in the health sector would promote healthcare provision quality. HITECH Act, being part of ARRA, offers plausible support to hospitals and professionals with exemplary utilization of technology in health record management. The financial aid encourages the use of satisfied and recommended technology that supports electronic health records. The transition towards the adoption of electronic healthcare technology receives support from other relevant implementation frameworks in place and others, currently under amendment. The law has provisions to oversee a complete adoption of the electronic healthcare system in the country through its provisions. Among the provisions is the allocation of nineteen million for the upgrade of health information management (Bodenheimer, Grumbach & Berenson, 2009). One of the strategies to ensure full implementation of the program is the Medicare reimbursement reductions. This provision of ARRA aims at penalizing professionals and hospitals that do not embrace full adoption of recommended and certified technology in health information management, by 2015. There is an increasing concern to promote the application of certified technology in health information management as provided in the act. The move by senate, though a bill in March 2012, to define and elaborate the meaning of eligible professional is equally of importance. The senate, though the bill, seeks to increase the amount disbursed to behavioral and mental health as well as substance abuse facilities. This, subsequently, would boost the expansion of technology used by the facilities in health information management. The various incentives set by ARRA to engage all stakeholders in the healthcare sector are vital in ensure the full transition that would anchor the adoption of electronic health record. There is an anticipated efficiency in service provision in the American health sector with the full implementation of the HITECH Act (Blumenthal, 2010). Privacy and security are among the ethical concern in healthcare information management. High professionalism and proper use of technology in healthcare, therefore, is of high importance. ARRA, through HITECH Act, would ensure full compliance to privacy and security concerns in health information management. References Blumenthal, D. (2010). Launching HITECH. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362(5), 382-5. Bodenheimer, T, Grumbach, K. & Berenson, R. (2009). A Lifeline for Primary Care. The New England Journal of Medicine, 360(26), 2693-6. Brostek, M. (2010). Recovery Act: IRS Quickly Implemented Tax Provisions, But Reporting and Enforcements Improvements are Needed. DIANE Publishing: Collingdale, PA. Pollin, R. & Baker, D. (2010). Reindustrializing America: A Proposal for Reviving U.S. Manufacturing and Creating Millions of Good Jobs. New Labor Forum, 19(2),73-79. Wilson, D. (2010). Fiscal Spending Jobs Multipliers: Evidence from the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco: San Francisco, CA. Read More