Health Policy Analysis & Recommendation.
ANSWER
Analysis of Health Policy and Change Recommendations
Introduction: The shape of the healthcare system and advancement of public health depend greatly on health policies. This report analyzes a particular health policy with the aim of finding a problem and producing a suggestion for a policy change. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, is the chosen policy for this research. It is a significant piece of healthcare reform legislation that was passed in the US in 2010.
Define the issue first
The ACA sought to lower healthcare costs, increase access to treatment, and enhance care quality. The ACA’s effect on insurance premiums, however, is a matter of worry. Since the ACA’s adoption, many people have complained that their insurance premiums have significantly increased. Concerns about affordability have arisen as a result of this problem, especially for middle-class individuals and families.
Create an evaluation criteria in step two.
We can take into account the following factors when assessing the issue of rising insurance premiums under the ACA:
Determine whether rising premiums have made healthcare costly for both individuals and families.
Access: Consider whether the cost of healthcare is becoming more expensive.
Check to see if the desired improvements in healthcare quality have been made.
Cost management: Examine the ACA’s success in containing total healthcare expenditures.
Determine Alternative Policies in Step 3
The issue of growing insurance rates could be resolved by a number of other measures and suggestions:
Strengthen Subsidies: Provide more low- and middle-income people with financial aid to help offset premium increases.
Public Option: Establish a public health insurance option to spur competition and lower private market premiums.
Rate Control: Implement more stringent controls on rate hikes for insurance.
Promote Healthcare Pricing Transparency: To provide customers the power to make knowledgeable decisions, encourage healthcare pricing transparency.
Step 4: Assessing Your Options
a. Strengthen Subsidies: While this strategy could help with affordability issues, it might not be able to effectively rein in rising healthcare expenses.
a. Public Option: Implementing a public option might boost competition and drive down premiums, but it might run into political resistance.
c. Rate Regulation: Tighter controls on premium hikes may offer temporary relief, but they may also have unforeseen effects.
d. Cost openness: While encouraging cost openness in the healthcare industry may give patients more control, it might not directly solve premium increases.
Make a recommendation in Step 5
After careful consideration, the introduction of a public health insurance alternative is the suggested policy modification. This suggestion is in line with the ACA’s initial goal of boosting affordability and competition in the insurance market. A public option might cut premiums by providing a less expensive alternative, and it might also increase access to healthcare services.
Many people and families are concerned about the issue of growing insurance premiums under the ACA. The government can encourage competition and possibly lower premium costs by offering a public health insurance option. This suggestion coincides with the overarching objective of enhancing healthcare for all and takes into account the affordability and access issues related to the ACA. Changes to policy should be carefully evaluated, taking into account both the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
QUESTIO N
Description
Overview:
For this assignment, you will prepare a written document that analyzes a health policy. Please follow the instructions below and prepare your document. Be sure to save in .doc or .docx format, and to follow APA guidelines.
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*To view the grading rubric for this discussion, click the name of the discussion, then click “Grading Information”
Instructions:
In Module 6 we learned about the 5 steps process for policy analysis. Using the policy you selected in Module 3 identify an issue of concern with a health policy.
- Using the five-step method discussed in the course, work through the steps to formulate a recommendation for policy change.