Week 5: Affordable Care Act, Contemporary Issues in Government

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Questions and Answers

What is one of the aims of the Affordable Care Act?

To limit the age at which individuals can receive insurance

To reduce the number of healthcare providers

To improve the quality and fairness of health insurance coverage (correct)

To eliminate insurance coverage for preexisting conditions

Which of the following best describes the impact of the ACA on nursing roles?

Nurses have taken on more responsibilities in care coordination. (correct)

Nurses are no longer permitted to provide preventive care.

Nurses are restricted to traditional hospital settings.

Nursing responsibilities have decreased due to fewer insured patients.

What specific type of training has the ACA encouraged for nurses?

Training limiting the use of technology in patient care

Training focused exclusively on surgical procedures

Higher education and advanced training in leadership roles (correct)

Training solely in traditional nursing practices

What provision did the ACA establish to assist individuals in obtaining health insurance?

Health Insurance Exchanges for free or low-cost insurance Signup and view all the answers

How has the ACA influenced the approach to preventive care?

Added coverage for preventive care services Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is accurate regarding the ACA’s impact on uninsured Americans?

The ACA significantly expanded health insurance coverage. Signup and view all the answers

What was a requirement introduced by the ACA regarding health insurance?

Individuals must have health insurance coverage. Signup and view all the answers

Which group benefitted from Medicaid expansion as mandated by the ACA?

Low-income individuals who did not have insurance Signup and view all the answers

What outcome has the ACA emphasized in the nursing field?

Improvement of healthcare quality and patient outcomes Signup and view all the answers

What limitation did the ACA impose regarding insurance company profits?

Insurance companies were required to limit profits. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant consequence of the ACA's consumer protections?

Prohibition of lifetime coverage limits Signup and view all the answers

Which demographic has been most affected by the opioid crisis in the United States?

Middle-aged Whites without higher education in rural areas Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason for the expected primary care physician shortage by 2025?

An aging workforce and preference for specialty practices Signup and view all the answers

What major change are some policymakers advocating for the U.S. health insurance system?

Implementing a single-payer, publicly-funded health insurance option Signup and view all the answers

What is the percentage change in public spending on education from 2010 to 2016?

Decreased by 11% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following has NOT been identified as a factor driving high U.S. health care expenditures?

Increased preventive care Signup and view all the answers

How did the ACA address health care access?

Through Medicaid expansion and health insurance marketplaces Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the effects of high healthcare spending in the U.S.?

Significant burdens on American commercial interests Signup and view all the answers

How much of the variation in health outcomes can be attributed to patients' social conditions?

70% Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a key initiative being implemented to improve the healthcare workforce?

Training and retention improvement initiatives Signup and view all the answers

What payment model is being experimented with to improve primary care services?

Fixed monthly care management fees in Medicare programs Signup and view all the answers

What was the largest job sector in the U.S. as of 2018?

Health care Signup and view all the answers

Which factor does not contribute to the opioid crisis according to the content?

Increased public awareness campaigns about mental health Signup and view all the answers

Which financial model incentivizes population health management rather than service delivery?

Accountable care models Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a primary cause of chronic conditions in the U.S. according to recent research?

Inadequate management of chronic diseases in primary care settings Signup and view all the answers

What has been a result of the ACA regarding preventive services?

Mandated coverage for preventive services without cost-sharing Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of all U.S. jobs is projected to be accounted for by healthcare by 2026?

13.8% Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of economic inequality is considered an essential measure according to the content?

Both wealth and income Signup and view all the answers

What trend did healthcare job growth have during the 2008 recession?

Increased by 428,000 jobs Signup and view all the answers

What has globalization contributed to in the context of economic inequality?

Loss of many low-skilled jobs Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Affordable Care Act and Nursing

The ACA has increased the demand for nurses, leading to job growth.
Nurses have expanded roles, including care coordination and preventive care.
The ACA emphasizes quality and outcomes, leading to focus on evidence-based practice and patient-centered care in nursing.
The ACA has encouraged nurses to pursue higher education and advanced training.

ACA's Aims

The ACA aims to reduce the number of uninsured Americans, improve the quality and affordability of health insurance coverage, and improve health care value by increasing quality and efficiency and decreasing wasteful spending.

Key Provisions of the ACA

The ACA mandates health insurance coverage for all Americans.
It provides provisions for Medicaid expansion and Health Insurance Exchanges.
It offers subsidies to assist with insurance purchase based on income.
It prohibits denial of coverage due to pre-existing conditions.
It covers preventive care without cost-sharing.
It allows young adults to remain on their parent's insurance until age 26.
It removes lifetime limits on coverage benefits.
It limits insurance company profits.

Impact of the ACA

The ACA has significantly increased health insurance coverage.
Medicaid expansion provided coverage to millions of low-income individuals.
The ACA introduced consumer protections, such as prohibiting denial of coverage for pre-existing conditions and eliminating lifetime limits on coverage benefits.
The ACA mandated coverage for preventive services without cost-sharing, promoting early detection and prevention of diseases.

Mechanisms to Address Healthcare Access

Medicaid expansion
Health insurance exchanges (marketplaces)
Premium tax credits
Cost-saving reductions

Contemporary Health Issues

Opioid Crisis

The opioid crisis disproportionately affects middle-aged White individuals without higher education, particularly in rural areas.
The crisis emerged due to under-prescription and under-administration of pain medication by healthcare providers.
This led to a focus on identifying and treating pain in patients, with pain being considered the "fifth vital sign."
The opioid crisis is linked to deaths of despair — deaths from suicide, drugs, and alcohol.
Policymakers are working to curb opioid access by enacting policies to make it more challenging for individuals to obtain painkillers.

Primary Care Crisis

There is a projected deficit of up to 23,640 primary care physicians by 2025, particularly in rural areas.
The shortage is attributed to an aging workforce and fewer physicians choosing primary care over specialty areas.
Chronic conditions are a major driver of primary care needs, with seven of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States being chronic conditions.
The fee-for-service system disproportionately rewards procedures over chronic care management.
Policymakers are implementing new payment models that reimburse providers for non-face-to-face services, such as chronic care management.
The Medicare Comprehensive Primary Care+ program experiments with alternative payment methods to encourage provision of care management services.

Health Insurance Coverage

The U.S. has a high percentage of uninsured citizens (approximately 10% of the population).
Policymakers are exploring a single-payer, publicly-funded health insurance system.
The ACA aimed to increase coverage through Medicaid expansion and private insurance subsidies.
Republican lawmakers have sought to repeal the individual mandate, citing it as a violation of individual liberty.

Healthcare Expenditures

The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country in the world, almost double the average spending of comparable countries.
Health care spending accounts for a significant percentage of GDP.
High healthcare expenditures affect U.S. commercial interests, impacting employer contributions, product prices, and public spending.
Factors contributing to high spending include lower investment in social services, the fee-for-service system, a weakened primary care system, defensive medicine, and higher input costs.
The U.S. pays more per service despite similar utilization levels, with higher provider salaries, technology costs, and administrative costs being key drivers.
Policymakers are addressing spending through Medicare and Medicaid reforms, subsidies, telehealth expansion, drug price negotiations, and workforce initiatives to improve training and retention of healthcare professionals.

Health Care as a Job Creator

Health care is the largest job sector in the U.S., surpassing retail and manufacturing.
Health care jobs are projected to continue growing, accounting for a larger percentage of all U.S. jobs.
Health care jobs are considered recession-proof, with the sector adding jobs during the 2008 recession.
Future growth will be driven by entry-level jobs that require minimal advanced education, highlighting concerns about career progression for low-skilled workers.

Social conditions like housing, environment, social circumstances, education level, and economic stability account for a significant portion of variation in health outcomes.
Policymakers are committed to advancing a national culture of health, focusing on addressing social and cultural issues related to health.
Accountable care models are moving away from fee-for-service models and incentivize population health management, prompting interventions on social determinants of health.

Economic Inequality

Wealth and income are primary measures to calculate economic inequality.
Globalization has led to job losses for low-skilled workers.
Income gains from technological advancements have disproportionately benefitted economic elites.

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Description

This quiz delves into the impact of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on nursing practices and healthcare delivery. It discusses the increased demand for nurses, the emphasis on quality care, and key provisions of the ACA that have shaped the healthcare landscape. Test your knowledge on how the ACA has influenced the nursing profession and healthcare access.