Healthcare Access & Policy

• Nurse practitioners are bridging gaps in healthcare access, especially in rural and underserved communities, by providing critical services where physicians may be in short supply, consequently expanding access to healthcare.
• Economic stability, a social determinant of health, includes factors like income, employment, and housing stability.
• Lower income levels are associated with poorer health outcomes due to financial limitations that can affect access to healthcare, nutrition, and other essential resources, demonstrating how socioeconomic factors influence health outcomes.
• Medicare's primary purpose is to provide health insurance for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as certain younger people with disabilities.
• The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) is a landmark act.
• The primary goal of value-based care is to improve patient outcomes while reducing costs.
• Providing care in underserved areas or telehealth involves preventing illness, managing chronic diseases, and promoting wellness, often through primary care services led by nurse practitioners.
• Independent, high-quality care is facilitated by nurse practitioners using their advanced clinical skills to assess, diagnose, and treat patients independently, thus improving the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery.
• Addressing social determinants of health involves healthcare providers connecting patients with community resources, such as food assistance or housing support, to improve their overall well-being.
• President Lyndon B. Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law.
• The primary goal of a patient-centered medical home (PCMH) is to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and patient-centered care to improve health outcomes.
• Care coordination improves healthcare by promoting patient-centered care and better communication between healthcare providers, which is vital for positive patient outcomes.
• Value-based care is the healthcare model that emphasizes payment tied to patient outcomes.
• The primary focus of accountable care organizations (ACOs) is coordinated care aimed at improving outcomes and reducing costs.
• Medicare was established in 1965.

Overview of nurse practitioners' role in healthcare access and the impact of economic stability on health outcomes. Discussion of Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and value-based care models. Addressing healthcare disparities in underserved areas and through telehealth.