The Affordable Care Act and Beyond

Assessment 1 Instructions: The Affordable Care Act and Beyond

• Complete a 3 page assessment template analyzing the impacts of The Affordable Care Act on the health care ecosystem we inhabit today and the related significance of one other health care initiative enacted since 2010.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2010. The ACA attempts to increase access to care, reduce cost, and improve quality. Nearly 50 different reform initiatives will be implemented between 2010 and 2017. Although primary care is a major focus of the act, these additional initiatives are focused on 10 different areas, including public health, prevention of disease, community health, and increasing revenue provisions to pay for the reform (Niles, 2021). The law has been controversial due to the mandate that all people in the United States must purchase health insurance. The future is still uncertain for the ACA.

The U.S. government plays a significant role in the operation of the country’s health care system. Quality, access, funding, education, and preventative services are all influenced by the U.S. government (Niles, 2021), and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has further increased the role and involvement of the government in health care. All health care administrators must be knowledgeable on the role of the government. Numerous governmental organizations exist, such as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Office of the Surgeon General to name a few. Each organization exists for a specific purpose and has a specific mission. Your role as an administrator will be to understand the scope of these agencies and to help your organization meet or exceed the governmental mandates imposed by each.

As leaders in our field, it is our responsibility to stay on top of current issues and laws and to be visionaries for our organizations. Subscribing to email bulletins and alerts from the various governmental agencies is one way to stay abreast of changing regulations. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS.gov, and Healthcare.gov are excellent resources that all administrators should check on a regular basis. The government, technology, and the changing financial landscape will all continue to impact and change the health care industry (Niles, 2021), and as health care administrators, we must be prepared to quickly respond.

Reference

Niles, N. J. (2021). Basics of the U.S. health care system (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning. 

The U.S. health care system was impacted significantly in 2010 by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Although the ACA improved access to health care, it emphasized the need for policies that increase funding and to streamline enrollment. Since the implementation of the ACA, newer reform policies and initiatives such as the Hospital Quality Initiative (2012), the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) (2015), the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), and the American Rescue Plan Act (2021) have increased quality initiatives through regulatory laws. In this assessment, you will review the Affordable Care Act and other more recent initiatives to understand the significance of quality evolution.

Reference

Niles, N. J. (2021). Basics of the U.S. health care system (4th ed.). Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Instructions

Using the Assessment 1 Template [DOCX], analyze the impacts of the ACA on the health care ecosystem we inhabit today. As part of this analysis, discuss the related significance of one other health care initiative enacted since 2010. Select this initiative from a list of the following four historical health care quality milestones:

• The Hospital Quality Initiative (2012).
• The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) (2015).
• The Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) (2015).
  • Although MIPS is a component of MACRA, you may choose to focus on it separately.
• The American Rescue Plan Act (2021).

In your assessment template, include the following:

• Title page.
• Introduction.
  • Preview the main themes of your paper.
• Annotated bibliography.
  • Demonstrate research ability by identifying three quality sources supporting the ACA.
  • Demonstrate research ability by identifying three quality sources supporting your chosen focused topic in health care legislation, a regulatory agency, or a quality initiative.
  • Summarize each of the six articles separately to show comprehension of both topics.
  • Include APA citations for each source.
• Draft a summary (1–2 pages) addressing how the ACA and the other topic selected have impacted today’s health care ecosystem.
• Conclusion.
• References.

Note: Your sources for this assessment must be evidence-based research, peer-reviewed journal articles, or reliable primary sources from government or professional organization publications.

Additional Requirements

• Length: Your paper must be a minimum of 3 double-spaced pages, not including the title page and References section.
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 point.
• References: Cite and summarize at least six peer-reviewed scholarly journal articles or reliable primary sources from government or professional organization publications.
• Style: Format your paper according to APA style. Refer to Evidence and APA for guidance.

Note: Please review the The Affordable Care Act and Beyond Scoring Guide before you begin the assessment.

Competencies Measured

By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the course competencies through the following assessment scoring guide criteria:

• Competency 1: Analyze current health reform, policy, and regulation in U.S. health care.
  • Analyze peer-reviewed literature that discusses how the Affordable Care Act has impacted the quality of and access to care.
  • Analyze peer-reviewed literature that discusses how initiatives since the Affordable Care Act have impacted the quality of and access to care.
  • Evaluate ways in which quality has improved or not improved since 2010.
• Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and respectful of the diversity, dignity, and integrity of others.
  • Write with minimal grammar, usage, spelling, and mechanical errors.
  • Apply proper APA formatting and citation style as required.