The Effects of Health Care Reforms on Women and Children in America - Assignment Example

The Effects of Health Care Reforms on Women and Children in America Introduction Health care policy and reform efforts to increase the number of people who are insured is becoming essential. “Covering the uninsured requires a new approach to health policy” states Kronenfeld (2004, p.197). This is because health care policy and reform efforts are frequently unsuccessful. Particularly in the area of children and low-income pregnant women, assessments of the effectiveness of state efforts to enroll people needs to be improved. One of the goals of health care reforms is that nearly all U.S. citizens should have health care coverage of their own choice, and appropriate to individual health status and income level. Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate health care reforms in America, particularly in relation to women and children, determine the urgency of the issue, and the audience interested in implementing changes in the reform efforts. Discussion Health Care Reforms in America Current health policies are related to increasing numbers of rules, and the influencing of behavior, rather than on achieving meaningful results. For example, the substantial federal funding provided by Medicaid towards compliance with federal requirements, does not include an automatic assessment of the effectiveness of state efforts to enroll people. Moreover, a continuous recalibration of methods is required to achieve desired outcomes. This results in wide gaps between eligibility and enrolment rates, particularly in the case of children (Kronenfeld, 2004). Rules and incentives though necessary and important tools should not be considered as ends in themselves, but as useful reinforcements for attaining success. “Describing success so everyone can help to pursue it is more likely to inspire progress than merely prescribing behavior based on an incomplete theory or an inappropriate model” (Kronenfeld, 2004, p.198). It is important to ensure that health care is delivered safely without waste and with multidimensional accountability. Towards accountability for high quality, cost-effective use of health care services, the federal government should provide a basic level of subsidy according to the need, and should support research and information flow. The states should ensure an affordable choice of health plans, employers serve as facilitators of enrolling and paying for coverage, and individuals are responsible for securing insurance coverage, and paying their fair share. Those people who remain uninsured for any reason, should be assured access to “community-based outpatient and preventive care services, rather than having to rely on emergency room and hospital-based care only” (Kronenfeld, 2004, p.198) since they are frequently delivered too late to be useful. What are the Effects of Health Care Reforms on Women and Children in America? Quality of care, equality of access and cost efficiency are the three main areas of health care reform. From Medicare and Medicaid becoming the focus of activity in the mid-1990s, emerged new programs directed at “managed care, insurance coverage, and extension of insurance coverage to children” (Patel & Rushefsky, 2006, p.402). The numbers of uninsured children have risen, with the implementation of welfare reforms and reduction of welfare rolls. Advocates of health care reform believe that uninsured children were an important group, for whom Medicaid coverage needed to be expanded. This is because children are comparatively inexpensive to insure, and benefit a great deal from coverage (Patel & Rushefsky, 2006). Moreover, “children are vulnerable and have a right to expect special consideration” (Shi & Singh, 2007, p.444). According to Arrighi & Maume (2007), reforms in Medicaid and other programs can definitely support impoverished families, but may not provide health care access over the long term. Further, depleting state revenues cause funding to be reduced. Provision of health care insurance to children in poor families by federal and state governments does not include similar coverage for parents unless they are pregnant or disabled. The barriers to accessing and receiving sustained health insurance coverage, is illustrated by the fact that in 2002, nearly 11% (8.2 million) of all children lacked health insurance. However, nearly half of these children are eligible for public care on the basis of belonging to the low income family group. This situation, according to Arrighi & Maume (2007, p.66) “is unlikely to improve in the short term since states have instituted methods to cut their share of the Medicaid costs”. These methods include placing limits on services, on enrollment, and restrictions on prescriptions covered. Insurance is also essential for poor women, particularly pregnant women who are unable to seek prenatal care due to lack of insurance. The main source of insurance coverage for both women and men is through employment. This places women at a disadvantage because they are less connected to the labor market. “Women are more likely to work part-time, receive lower wages” (Arrighi & Maume, 2007, p.448), and lack a consistent means of livelihood. Thus, employer-based insurance for women is much less than for men. Health care reform includes coverage for oral contraceptives for women, which may be as low as 60% among companies that provide other types of health insurance, and may be covered by up to 78% of employer-based insurance. The Urgency of the Issue A common criticism against the United States’ health care system is that it is the only industrialized nation that does not assure universal access to basic health care. “Over 44 million people – mostly adults and children in wage earning families” (Shi & Singh, 2007, p.555) do not have health insurance. Further, holding a job does not ensure health insurance coverage. Though 70% of Americans depend on their employers for insurance, in the present tight economy, employers are subtracting from benefits, or even eliminating coverage completely. The urgency of the issue requires strong health care reform measures to be taken by the government, particularly for the benefit of women and children in America. With increasing numbers of single women being responsible for raising their children, the majority of them are working part-time and at inadequately paid jobs. From this emerges the issues of increasing poverty and poor health among women and children, which need to be addressed by the government. Conclusion This exploratory paper has highlighted the importance of health care reforms in America. It has discussed the issue especially in relation to women and children, and determined the its urgency for the benefit of these vulnerable groups. The evidence indicates that inadequate health care insurance reform measures are the outcome of the economic downturn and depleting state revenues. Governmental reforms in Medicaid which provide adequate long term health insurance coverage, are required. References Arrighi, B.A. & Maume, D.J. (2007). Child poverty in America today: Children and the state. The United States of America: Greenwood Publishing Group. Kronenfeld, M.R. (2004). Healthcare reform in America: A reference handbook. California: ABC-CLIO Publishers. Patel, K. & Rushefsky, M.E. (2006). Health care politics and policy in America. New York: M.E. Sharpe. Shi, L. & Singh, D.A. (2007). Delivering health care in America: A systems approach. Edition 4. Massachusetts: Jones & Bartlett Publishers. Read More