Introduction
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) is healthcare legislation enacted in 2014 in the USA as the main healthcare regulating law. Its goal was to update and reform the healthcare system of the country to meet the needs of vulnerable populations and provide equitable access to quality care to a broader population of American citizens. The law contains three main components, namely, insurance, Medicaid, and care service delivery by lower costs. This paper explores the impact of these components of the law on medicine and nursing practice.
Discussion
The first component of ACA makes healthcare insurance more affordable. The law provides subsidies to individuals whose income is “between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level” (“About the Affordable Care Act,” 2022, para. 3). This provision increases the number of people eligible to obtain coverage for their healthcare services. The impact of this provision on the nursing practice is manifested through the enhanced workload of professionals and their need to improve cultural sensitivity to meet the needs of vulnerable populations. The second provision holds that the Medicaid program should expand “to cover all adults with income below 138% of the federal poverty level” (“About ACA,” 2022, para. 4). It positively affects impoverished populations by providing them with financial security for healthcare. It impacts the nursing practice by worsening the workforce shortage problem and encouraging higher efficiency of performance. The third component necessitates “support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally” (“About ACA,” 2022, para. 5). It affects patients through innovative approaches to treatment, benefits organizations due to reduced costs, and positively impacts the nursing practice by facilitating research and development.
Conclusion
In summation, ACA is aimed at increasing insurance coverage, expanding Medicaid, and lowering healthcare costs via innovation. The provisions positively affect the target populations of vulnerable underinsured patients by providing them with better access to and quality of healthcare. At the same time, it promotes innovation and development in the nursing practice while challenging the existing system with workforce shortage and ultimate workload increase issues.
Reference
About the Affordable Care Act. (2022). Web.