The Health Care Policy in the USA - Essay Example

Policy Analysis Policy Analysis The health care policy in the US is highly attentive to the needs of the health care consumers(Kontos, 2014). This is evident from the launch the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that is commonly referred to as Obamacare (Oliver, 2013; Buck, 2011; Tate, 2012). This policy has resulted to improved access to health care mainly to individuals that could not access in the past (Wooderson, 2013; Rak and Coffin, 2012). Furthermore, nurses and other medical practitioners are trained to be attentive to the health needs of their patients across the divide (Balto, 2011: Koh, and Sebelius, 2011; Carman et al., 2010). It can therefore be stated that the health care in the US is both accessible and is becoming affordable with the introduction of consumer friendly health policies (Kocher and Adashi, 2011; Kocher et al., 2011; Greenwald, 2010). Health care provision to those in need is the responsibility of the medical practitioners, policy makers, health care institutions as well as the government (Happell et al., 2012; Happell et al., 2014: Bryne, 2013). However, it is clear that the burden lies mostly of the shoulders of the nurses since they are the ones who come into close contact with the patients and are also involved in implementing the already established policy (Cleary, 2011; Cleary et al., 2014; Rogers and Cantu, 2013). Nurses meet the responsibility of providing health care to those in need by setting up free medical check-ups and screening (Olshansky, 2011; Herdman, 2011; Andersen et al., 2011). However, at times they fall short at times by failing to understand the needs of individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds (Hensley, 2012; Jooste, 2011). The system that is responsible for the delivery of health care on that various levels ranging from individual to administration is competent (Hauck et al., 2013: Dreher and Glasgow, 2010). This is facilitated by the high level of team work that is present in most health institutions (Howatson-Jones, 2013; Hutchinson and Jackson, 2013; Wong and Laschinger: 2013). Additionally, the leadership that is practiced in health institution is competent resulting to improved health care provision (Dossey and Keegan, 2013; Porter-OGrady and Malloch, 2013). All nurses are trained on how to be competent and those working in specialized institutions are required to have a minimum of a BSN this improves the level competence in health care institutions (Boltz, 2012; Wheatley, 2010; Huber, 2014; Sroczynski and Dunphy, 2012). As a result, the patients can enjoy improved access to quality health (Benton, 2009; Barr, 2011). The US health care system can is viewed as being responsive to the needs of individuals (Jorm, 2012). This can be observed from the nature of care that is accorded to the patients who are in need (Cunningham, 2009; Lima et al, 2009; Brockopp et al., 2011; Terry, 2012). Patients requiring emergency health care are attended to with the urgency that is required and this saves lives (Mojtabai, 2009; McKenzie and Jeffreys, 2009). In spite of this, it can be stated that the health care system is more responsive to the health care needs of some individuals than others (Vázquez et al, 2009; Lipsky et al, 2011). It can be observed that some individuals are left out (Slade et al., 2009). This is based on their social status and ethnic lines (Holtz, 2013). For instance, the health care system is not responsive to the needs of ethnic minority groups such as the Latino population (Byrd and Law, 2009). On the other hand, the poor experience problems in accessing health care. The Affordable Care Act that is commonly referred to as Obamacare has resulted to an improved access to health care (Collins and Nicholson, 2010; Schmidt, 2012). This is owing to the fact that it has resulted to improved access to health care mainly to the individuals that were not insured (Thompson, 2010; Zuckerman et al., 2011). These people can now access health care resulting to a general improvement across the health care sector (Iezzoni, 2011; Nichols and Sobanet,). It is noted that general health care access has improved since the implementation of the health policy (Rosenbaum, 2011). However, there are those that suffer from the policy in terms of increased costs and reduced profits (Foster, 2010; Bang, 2014). Companies are forced to incur increased health care costs on the behalf of their employees (Oechsner and Haynes, 2010). On the other hand, insurance companies make reduced profits as they are required to disregard all the preexisting conditions (Schoen, 2011). The policy reflects on the main values that are associating with nursing including high touch care, collectivity, care and collaboration. The policy has led to the adoption of new nursing roles that foster these values in nursing (Harrington et al., 2012) The policy is aimed towards improving the quality of care that is offered to patients (Mariner, 2012; Davis, 2011). It also emphasizes on the importance of team work and collaboration among stakeholders in health care sector (Zietlow, 2011; Kelly, 2011). The policy advocates for increased collectivity in improving the overall health care of patients. The policy can be seen to be a reflection of the principles, philosophy and ethics of care. This is because it focuses towards the improved access of health care to all individuals in spite of the racial and ethnic background or their place in society (Levinson et al., 2010; Andersen et al., 2011). Secondly, the policy concentrates on the provision of affordable care to all (Williams et al., 2010). Thirdly, the policy promotes access of preventive care which results to an overall improvement in health care provision (Schoen et al., 2011). Finally, the policy seeks to address the health inequalities that are present in society in the modern world. It can be concluded that Obamacare reinforces the important values in nursing. The power relations before the implementation of the policy mainly focused on the side of the health care providers and health institutions (McClain and Buchman, 2010; Vest, 2010). However, the ACA has empowered patients in a way that makes them the main area of focus in health care provision (Horton et al., 2009). In general, the policy establishes a patient-centered approach in health care (U.S. Govt. Accountability Office, 2012; Richardson, 2013; Northouse et al., 2012). Secondly, it empowers nurses to make health care decisions pertaining to the patients’ health. Finally, health institutions are empowered to provide preventive care and better health care to their patients (Viruell-Fuentes, 2010). The policy results to the provision of all-inclusive care (Mechanic, 2012; Huber, 2014; Faguet, 2013). This is done by ensuring that primary care, secondary care and preventive care services are offered to their patients equitably (Hofer et al., 2010; Moy et al., 2011; Long and Gruber, 2011). It can also be stated that Obamacare plays an important role in ensuring provision of comprehensive health care (Casalino et al., 2009; Baker, 2010; Naylor et al., 2011). On the flipside, the policy causes fragmentation in health care provision owing to the fact that it results to a discord in the various health stakeholders that are involved in the health care sector including the government, insurance companies and the employers that contribute towards their employees’ insurance policy (Manchikanti, 2011; Bass and Bass, 2009; Buntin et al., 2011). The policy touches on the ethical care framework that dictates that health care practitioners have a duty to uphold what is morally right. This is owing to the fact that individuals are constantly faced with ethical dilemmas that require them to undertake ethical decisions (Faden et al., 2013). The framework states that medical practitioners should act in the best interest of the patients at all times. It is important to note that various professions in the health care sector have established rules and regulations that are to be followed by the practitioners on how to appropriately handle the dilemmas. The policy presents various problems in health care provision (Hamric et al., 2013; Hoffman, 2010; Paul et al., 2010). The policy could results into increased health care costs in the short-run. There are concerns that the policy results to an increased tax burden on the citizens (Berwick, 2009; Huntington et al., 2010; Johnson, 2010; Auerbach, and Gale, 2009). There are major ethical that are associated with the policy owing to the increased health care costs that are associated with this policy (Jost and Fund, 2010; Gable (2011). This burden is shifted to the tax payers and this is highly unethical. References Andersen, R. M., Rice, T. H., & Kominski, G. F. (2011). Changing the US health care system: Key issues in health services policy and management. John Wiley & Sons. Auerbach, A. J., & Gale, W. G. (2009). The economic crisis and the fiscal crisis: 2009 and beyond. Urban-BrookingsTax Policy Center. Barr, D. A. (2011). 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