The health care situation in America
Discussion
The health care situation in America is highly disjointed, clumsy, and focuses on intervention as opposed to prevention and inclusive health control. Besides, health care costs stay high and at untenable rates as care quality falls far from ideal. But, over the last few years, health care policies adopted through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), in addition to the Children’s Health Program (CHIP), have helped to increase access to cheap care coverage to many of the uninsured and non-Medicare qualified individuals. Other policies that relate to access, quality, and cost include the Affordable care Act of 2010, Medicaid, Medicaid, and Patient Safety and Quality Improvement (PSQIA). These policies promote health care access for many of the people from lower socioeconomic levels. Griffith, Evans, and Bor (2017) assert that these policies give proof that the disparity in care access, cost, and quality has considerably reduced, especially under the ACA policy.
The Health Markets (2020) health care reforms imply making health care cheaper as well as access to many of the Americans who are uninsured or underinsured. Such changes would help most of the low and middle-income people to have access to insurance plans, which provide lower and out-of-pocket costs. It also means an expanded health care coverage to include more people from lower socioeconomic status. Limited access to vulnerable populations would mean poor health outcomes, higher risk factors, increased rates of mortality, and worse access to care than other communities. Some of these vulnerable populations, such as chronically ill, homeless people, low-income individuals, and disabled, often lack enough funds to support their wellbeing and living. In efforts to increase awareness of civil rights in health care, Smith (2007) argues that nurses educate, support, and empower people to allow them to take active roles in defining how what quality must entail. He also says that nurses can act as advocates by promoting what he calls ‘nurse-managed primary care’ and focus on transforming policies at all levels. For Smith (2007), these efforts can help to increase access, equity, as well as the protection of all people.