Obamacare, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Essay Example

Affordable Care Act (ACA Obamacare Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act PPACA Introduction Since its passage in 2010 by the incumbent president, ACA has significantly impacted not only the entire medical field but also varied professions whose core role is to uphold Americans’ wellbeing. The notable ones include those constitute safety and health profession, which for instance embrace nursing, dentistry, industrial hygienists besides others supposed to uphold high standards of safety. Impact is both adversely as some scholars in the medical field current contend as well as numerous benefits to the entire American population. Mainly, the latter benefit is enjoyed by those who before the passage of this Act were uninsured due to being in US either illegally as immigrants or based on then statutes could not afford insurance. However, after its implementation they are with ease access quality as well as timely medical consideration. Particularly, to the safety and health profession besides compelled to acquire more skills on their part as a way of ensuring quality services, they are experiencing increased stress, burden and instability (Anderson, 2014). This is because of the current professionals being few for the increasing millions of people seeking healthcare services. Hence, the entire system entailing keen and major restructuring, which the government has effected by increasing recruitment of professionals in schools to cater for current and future deficit. In addition, some institutions after realizing the demand of the medical field have emerged with incorporating other degrees’ contents into their programs. For instance, those touching on administration or management in such a way trainees upon completion of their courses can adequately undertake managerial roles effectively. Undeniably, the emergency of ACA whose name coined in a way to refer the incumbent president as “Obamacare” has been an agent of drastic changes to safety and health profession, which this study seeks to highlight. Benefits Health care or all The Obama care has stipulated forth many benefits that will in a great way impact the wellbeing of Americans. The ACA is to be celebrated for upholding rights of patients with regards to various matters as well as granting privileges that were nonexistent before its inception. One of the benefits accruing from the Act is with regards to the fact that it offers extension of Medicaid’s eligibility in 26 states for up to 138% for the poverty level in the federal hence making it possible for most of Americans to have access to health care. Therefore, whether a citizen gets a health insurance cover for themselves or whether it is done by their employees, the Act abolishes actions that leave citizens without insurance covers when they need them the most. For that reason, no person gets left out basing on their gender or even colour. No cancelling of policies Unlike before, an insurer cannot come forward and cancel a policy the moment one falls sick on claims that one had made a mistake when taking out the policy. The act of cancelling is what is referred to as recession. Therefore, if an applicant made an honest mistake while taking out the policy, their policy cannot later on be cancelled on that very ground the instance they fall ill. Appeals When someone feels aggrieved by a decision that an insurance company has reached regarding their policy, they have a right to go ahead and apply for an appeal. The applicant makes the said appeal to a neutral or rather an independent reviewer who checks into their application and delivers a sound verdict in that regard. The response given by the independent reviewer is delivered within 72 hours when the medical condition is urgent in nature. No limited insurances Treatment for some illnesses can consume a lot of time and finances hence accumulating big medical bills. Before, insurance policies would state the extent to which they will cover a patient’s medical bill. This made treatment difficult and uncertain for patients whose illnesses persistent for a long period of time accumulating hefty bills beyond the amount pledged by the insurer. However, this is now an out dated practice under the ACA and has been termed as illegal under the Act. Therefore, insured individuals do not have to be worried that they will be in debts once their cover runs out. Expanded coverage The law has now articulated some of the uninsured citizens to get affordable healthcare. For instance, young adults now can comfortably dependent on their parent’s policies until they clock 26. The ACA states that health plans should let young people to stay on their parents plans regardless of whether these youngsters still attend school or that they are still married. In addition, the health care will no longer deny people with pre-existing conditions to take out policies. The ACA also denies insurers from charging high premiums to people who have pre-existing conditions. This is because treating people that have pre-existing conditions differently is regarded as discriminatory among those particular patients. In fact, patients who have had the pre-existing conditions for a period not less than 6 months are said to be eligible to apply for much more subsidized coverage in the relevant insurance plan availed in their state for those with the pre-existing conditions. Moreover, insurance companies cannot deny cover to people with the pre-existing conditions if such people are children falling in the categories of below 19 years. Preventive as well as checkups availed for free The ACA is focused upon ensuring that there will be primary care as well as early prevention. This will enable early detection and management of illnesses before they become complex and difficult to handle. For that reason, the Act makes it clear that health plans must get rid of cost-sharing when it comes to preventive measures such as immunization or even cancer screening. Other preventive measure that are supposed to be free involve screening done for diabetes, women wellness as well as those done for domestic violence. Right to knowledge of Health plan Every person taking out any type of cove is entitled to total disclosure of its contents. This is to mean that the insurer is obliged with making sure that they give an easy as well as comprehensive summary of what the policy covers. It is also the task of the insurer to ensure that they make each person understand the benefits contained in the cover sought. Therefore, any insurer who conceals any facts regarding to a policy commits contravenes the law. Total Insurance for workers working full time Large employers are required to render total cover to its full-time employees. Under this mandate, the employers are required to render coverage to at least 95% of its workers. Guaranteed renewability for someone’s cover Under Obama care, every person is guaranteed of renewing their cover regardless of their status or condition. This is to imply that one cannot be denied of any renewal of their cover other than on grounds of being unable to pay. However, this does not imply that all health insurances are guaranteed automatically because some insurances that are short time may not be guaranteed. Setbacks/demerits Physician shortage and increased workload or pressure Studies so far conducted have revealed how the emergence of ACA has currently stressed and overburdened few physicians supposed to attend to the increasing populations (Trends Magazine, 2013). This is because of few physicians that were not only inadequate before the passage of this Act but also the situation worsened in the current situation. Hence, in most cases compelling few physicians execute their respective roles in stressful and instability settings without in any given time allowed to compromise on quality (Anderson, 2014). This implies their roles were a bit tolerable before then compared to the current time whereby they have to put up with the situation despite their earlier struggling to satiate great demand. Scholars contend the inadequate workforce is not only contributed by slow replacing of retiring professionals but also few graduates who have adequate skills meant to help in availing services for the increasing population. Based on Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), the demand for services from inadequate workforce despite the incumbent regime seeming to be doing much will not be met any time soon (Trends Magazine, 2013). For instance, Trends Magazine (2013) claims AAMC postulates a heightened demand in terms of physicians in 2016 of approximating to 916,000, which is by far when comparing 785,400 that will be manageable then. Consequently, this has prompted unceasing debates among numerous scholars especially from the medical field contending the incumbent regime has absolutely erred in coming up with ACA. They base their argument on the fact, the system there earlier was still in a worse state and entailing the government to fund more training of physicians in order to increase their number with the intention of lessening the demand. However, contrary to their suggestions and anticipations physicians are currently overworked with many of them compelled to assume extra roles including managing. Majority contend the serving regime failed to notice the already struggling sector entailing support and rescue tit instead of overburdening it with extra roles. Probably, this could be the reason behind the current escalating cases of defensive medicine that has prompted numerous physicians face extremely pricey lawsuits. Since, most of them do not want to appear as if they are unable to resolve mere cases at hand for the patients or their caretakers who would infer they are unwilling to serve them as required. But the unreciprocated query to date is how these critics cannot explain how the uninsured and those who could not afford care could survive in a country where they ought to contribute economically. Present rate of growth proves efforts made by respective authorities meant to ensure there are adequate physicians have ended up being futile. Since, despite numerous people who have enrolled for Medicaid or other related programs as per ACA, seniors continue to increase whereby by 2030 they will have exceeded current 12% (Anderson, 2014). This is because of numerous breakthroughs technological knowhow have enabled the medical field to attain where by then there will be heightened demand compared to the current situation due to more seniors. Consequently, this growth will translate to numerous chronic maladies, which is a stress in waiting to an already weak and overburdened workforce due to their number being not proportional to the states’ demand. This is because based on the current statistics, practitioners accomplishing own education levels end up taking long in schools to suffice the ever increasing demand or close. Hence, widening demand gap without proper strategies instituted by the government of the day up to date. According to Anderson (2014), this gap will continue to widen for it have already surpassed the set ideal ration of 40% practitioners to 50% of the ailing people requiring primary care. Currently, the profession has only one third of practitioners providing primary care, which is a demanding section without considering advanced or chronic cases. Increased responsibilities altering Safety and Health Profession The advent of ACA did not only emerge with extra workload for the few practitioners in the field but also prompting them to embrace completely new responsibilities in their specializations. These included responsibilities there earlier from the medical’s perspective were completely different from varied specializations and meant for other professionals like managers and leaders. However, current roles emphasized by Obamacare have prompted practitioners end up embracing these roles in their quest to serve the ever increasing demand effectively. Hence, according to Kaushal prompting many of the physicians currently having no option but to learn some of the necessary skills on the job for they did not encounter them while pursuing their respective specializations (Svrluga, 2015). Kaushal in Svrluga’s article (2015) refers physicians’ mode of mastering varied imperatives currently medical field demands of its professionals as fabricating an airplane while still on board. Some of the emergent and key roles which physicians ought to be able to embrace without exhibiting any level of “malpractice” include care coordination, managing costs as well as optimizing data that will avail consistent quality in any given organization. Since this is what will ensure medical field like any other firm more so the private ones remain relevant besides being in the business (Svrluga, 2015). Due to these emerging responsibilities that entail physicians not only executing their varied roles based one’s specializations but also embracing managerial tasks, medical schools have resulted to incorporating extra studies. This is to ensure students are at par with the emergent technological knowhow, for instance, informatics with the intention to manage patient’s data appropriately (McGowan, Passiment & Hoffman, 2007). Since those who can adequately understand this data are medical experts and how it ought to be executed as well as preserved. This is in such a way it facilitates effective sharing if any need arises among practitioners because professionals having simply managerial background might not understand the medical jargon. Similarly, this also applies to physicians who may not how their data or varied aspects have been preserved in information systems. Due to these disparities that may arise caused by current technological advancements currently specific in regards to areas of applications, medical field has emphasized on more targeted educational programs (McGowan, Passiment & Hoffman, 2007). This is to align with the augmenting technological knowhow complexity and preservation of patients’ information using varied technological tools in order to realize already set states’ policies. This is quite evident with the emergent Obamacare whose provisions seem to weigh more on practitioners despite their number currently seeming by far small compared to the demand it ought to meet. Argument so far held by numerous scholars contends physicians supervised or managed by leaders emanating from the medical field undertake their varied tasks with heightened efficiency (Svrluga, 2015). Since the leading or managing team understands well medical requirements and varied tasks, which is contrary to those might be holding similar positions from other fields. This is because the latter in most cases end up utilizing models that may not adequately yield any results in the medical field whose dynamics are quite different. For instance, managing personnel from medical field will in certain circumstances entail leading specialists to intervene in undertaking varied tasks though indirectly to motivate his juniors but not in the case of a manager from a different field. Since the latter will be there at the top for appraisal purposes without having any critical knowledge in regards to a given sector which he or she perceives to be lagging in realizing targets. Due to this, scholars have proposed that educational institutions ought to incorporate other managerial and leadership programs. These are meant to train physicians in such a way the knowhow they attain in all their courses will make them to be multi-discipline experts who can deliver as required. This is without relying on external experts in steering the medical sector, which currently due to the demands by states’ policies or Acts like Obamacare ought to operate effectively. However, according to Kaushal this can only be possible if education programs incorporate specifics like economics, IT as well as leadership skills but circumspectly tailored to ensure high quality delivery of healthcare (Svrluga, 2015). In addition, varied medical schools having realized the increased responsibilities which physicians ought to embrace despite their small number, have emerged with drastic changes. These have altered how the safety and healthcare profession has been in the past so as to realize goals currently Obamacare demands. For instance, Messina (2013) in her article relays how Weill Cornell Medical College through its current initiated changes upholds teamwork mantra. This is to ensure would-be experts are capable of undertaking varied tasks in the field jointly with other experts like social workers or doctors in their first stages before becoming full professionals (Messina, 2013). Hence, transform them to be essential pieces whose core contribution is unequaled in the current complex field due to Obamacare policy. This is due to the policy’s efforts through its provision demanding firms to transform to accountable-care organizations. Hence, being contrary to the past whereby currently physicians ought to be liable for intricate as well as small issues that constitute “soup-to-nuts care” in the ailing person’s residence (Messina, 2013). Changes since the emergent of ACA has prompted some scholars like Carol Aschenbrener end up backing key alterations in the manner in which Med schools impart their respective students required knowledge (Messina, 2013). This is to counter the current demanding medical field’s responsibilities placed upon shoulders of small workforce. For instance, in 2013 Carol Aschenbrener contended if physicians anticipate seeing changes that will align adequately with the enacted ACA, institutions ought to emerge with new training approaches (Messina, 2013). Since the increasing shortage of physicians is significantly transforming medical sector, which prompts institutions devise measures to counter these impacts. This is quite evident in NYU Langone whereby besides still upholding the former four year duration path for one to be an M.D, there is an introduction of a three-year path (Messina, 2013). The core intention of this strategy is to relieve trainees one year of their education and financial commitment in such a way they can venture in the field. This is to ease burden of the augmenting demand seeking primary care as well as trainees manage to earn in availing lower primary care. Hence, transforming long paths of education, which based on this action it might even influence future mode of imparting knowledge to trainees. Mainly, this is in terms of lessening years traditionally students had to stay in the confinement of their respective education institutions while in pursuit of own specific specializations (Messina, 2013). These approaches are similar to what institutions like NYU Langone currently emphasize on trainees taking joint degrees, for instance, public health and business administration such that once they commence practicing can adequately manage organizations (Messina, 2013). Hence, completely altering safety and health profession in such a way within few years to come based on the current trend; medical field will have assumed a different state of producing experts having capability to assume varying roles. These include both managing as well as delivering quality primary care. Since, it ought to meet mitigate as well as manage adequately current challenges facing medical sector as well as realize states’ policies like those of Obamacare. Safety and health profession dissatisfaction Numerous practitioners have expressed heightened displeasure due to the current policy that compels to taking more patients in quest of earning substantial revenue (Catholic Online, 2014). Pragmatically, this does not in any way aid physicians who currently are quite loaded with patients to the extent not time or resources meant to low paying insured. Consequently, this has prompted majority especially those who have been in the field before the institution of ACA opting to quit. Since what for years have passionately pursued hoping to reap from their toil, which under ACA seems impossible without overburdening themselves. In addition, playing by the current policies physicians have expressed concerns in regards to the low insured whereby in certain situations based on their conditions might end up being unable to afford. Since, the current policy people despite insured some due to prolonged periods that they have stayed without accessing proper care their conditions might be extremely complicated (Catholic Online, 2014). Hence, prompting physicians footing their bills for they are afraid of pricey lawsuits if they fail to assist the patient or charged with defensive medicine. Due to this complexity, numerous scholars currently contend the profession, which earlier many held with high esteem has become just like any other occupation people can refer to casually. Since, those who have spent years trying to acquire adequate knowhow as well as experience the current ACA provisions end up disregarding them. For instance, the policy demands insurers covering their client for 90 days but this is not so whereby they only do it for only 30 days and the rest if one happens to be serving that patient as a physician ought to foot the bill of 60 days (Catholic Online, 2014). This is extremely disappointing to the physicians especially the private ones operating own premises for they will incur losses instead of anticipated revenues. Hence, compelling majority end up being selective by not preferring those of low earnings for they will turn out to be a financial burden, which they cannot evade once medication commences due to lawsuits. Bureaucratic nature of health system The Obama care has brought forth many rules and regulations that must be adhere to in the health sector when it comes to offering patient-centered care. The many changes that affect the health sector have been the centre of controversy recently. For instance, ACA sets forth a patient-centered Outcomes research institute that will non-profitable in nature (Senger, 2013). The institute is tasked among other activities, examining of efficiency of health care, drugs manufactured as well as medical equipments. While the recommendations that the institute may document regarding their investigations, this may however, weakness the relationship that is supposed to be amongst a patient and their doctor (Senger, 2013). More taxes on citizens In order to secure more finances to get many if not every person insured, it is quite obvious that extra finances are required in that regard. The extra finances will thus create increased taxes for the citizens and this means that life is definitely expected to be costly. This may be undesirable to many citizens especially the high earners who view this as not a right move from the government. Therefore, although the Act is geared towards ensuring that even the low-income persons are insured this will definitely create a new burden to tax payers in various ways. Conclusion The Obama care is undeniably a major force in the health arena as per now. This is because it stipulates many procedures that for different stakeholders in the sector such as physicians, hospitals, insurers and many others. For that reason, Obama care has brought both positive as well as detrimental effects in the health care. It is indeed a celebrated piece of legislation because it allows Americans to increased health care access notwithstanding their status. Therefore, whether of grounds of gender, color and even religion or also back ground, every person is required to be accorded equal as well as fair handling while getting treatment. The benefits under Obama care are thus many and worth embracing. However, the legislation has also had its setbacks such as the fact that it completely brought major regulations that have made the health sector more bureaucratic and thus complex. The Act also has led to dissatisfaction among many practitioners due to increased work load as well as more medics being enrolled in medical schools making the once noble profession now flooded which would make it unpopular with time. References (2014). “Why does Obama want doctors overworked and underpaid?” Catholic Online. Retrieved from Addressing the U.S. Physician Shortage. (2013). Trends Magazine, 10(10), 22-29. Anderson, A. (2014). The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Health Care Workforce. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved from McGowan, J. J., Passiment, M. & Hoffman, H. E. (2007). Educating Medical Students as Competent Users of Health Information Technologies: The MSOP Data. Studies in health technology and informatics, 129(2), 1414. Messina, J. (2013). Obamacare transforms med school. Crains New York Business, 29(5), 13. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1285160566?accountid=458 Senger, Alyene. (2013).Obamacare’s Impact on Doctors—An Update.The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved from Svrluga, S. (2015). Obamacare has changed medicine. Now med schools need to change, too. The Washington Post. Retrieved from Read More