Running head: PUBLIC POLICY 1

ACA Public Policy Initiatives

Student

Institutional Affiliation
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ACA Public Policy Initiatives

Question #1: Need for Guaranteed Access to Basic Healthcare

The government reserves the role of ensuring that healthcare access is made easy for the

people. ACA policy was instrumental for creating a common baseline for the enhancement of

access to quality healthcare services (Bacon Jr., 2018). The passage of Obamacare act was driven

with the need to have a solution to the wide range of healthcare problems that were present

across the population.

Primary healthcare encapsulates the lowest level of access for the local level. Citizens

need to be assured of their access to treatment. Cost and availability to healthcare are vital in

determining the accessibility of treatment. Uninsured people, therefore, find it difficult to access

the treatment options when the need arises (Sommers, Shepard, & Hempstead, 2018). ACA

policy was intended to provide a modest approach in availing basic healthcare to the majority of

deprived segments of the population.

Question #2: Appropriateness of the Market-based Product

The market-based system is the most appropriate because it enhances stability in offering

financial support to the healthcare service provider. Pervasive weaknesses have engulfed the

capability of the national government funded program. Rapidly rising costs are considered to be

driven by the need for ensuring that the escalations are covered appropriately (Saltzman, Eibner,

& Enthoven, 2015). Spending on healthcare is based on budgetary provisions that are dependent

on many other factors. Market bases system provides some form of stability that eliminates the

possibility of mounting debts and deficits.

The escalation in the cost of health costs has overtaken the rise in the national outcome.

Government funded programs are based on revenue received from taxation. Growing taxation
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base depends upon the national economic standing (Saltzman, Eibner, & Enthoven, 2015). The

growth fails to match the changing healthcare costs, thus leading to the noted deficits. The

design of the ACA policy was quite flawed due to the dependence on the service providers’

volumes. The approach opens up the system to immense abuse in the form of inefficiency and

overuse.

Question #3: proposal for the Practical Approach for the United States

The market-driven approach provides the best option of implementing healthcare

insurance needs. The American population is diverse, and all the centres of the economy need

protection. Consideration of the traps of the affected people can be instrumental in ensuring that

the preexisting conditions are administered (Capreta & Moffit, 2019). Majority of working

Americans need to be in the position of remaining assured of the current healthcare needs. The

approach is instrumental in sealing the existing cracks present in the existing system.

The program eliminates the lowly paid and equates their salary to their capability to

afford the premiums. Access to basic healthcare should be assured at all times. Portability and

accountability are enhanced, thus eliminating the risk of wastage. Assessment of the prevailing

situation is critical in determining the most appropriate program. Concerns over the

comparatively higher rates need proper assessment to establish suitability for accessing basic

healthcare services (Capreta & Moffit, 2019). Concern over the health status positioning is

critical in determining the best coverage for the intended beneficiaries.

Question #4: Significant Concerns about the Approach

Entrepreneurial interests are significantly detrimental to the full implementation of the

program. The aspect required proper controls meant to safeguard the weak members of the

community that do not have access to appropriate healthcare (Physicians' Working Group, 2003).
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The government should also remain functional in its efforts to ensure that access to healthcare is

enhanced. Access to financial capability can ensure that the patients can be assured of proper

healthcare efforts. Involvement of private enterprises in the program needs to be implemented

carefully to protect the interest of the majority of the public.

References

Capreta, J. C., &Moffit, R. E. (2019). How to Replace Obamacare. National Affairs.

Retrieved from https://www.nationalaffairs.com/publications/detail/how-to-replace-obamacare

Physicians' Working Group, (2003). Proposal for Single-Payer National Health

Insurance. Journal of American Medical Association, 290(6), 798-805.

Bacon Jr., P. (2018). Republicans Killed Much of Obamacare without Repealing It. One

Hundred Eleventh Congress of the United States of America.

Saltzman, E. A., Eibner, C., & Enthoven, A. C. (2015). Improving the affordable care act:

An assessment of policy options for providing subsidies. Health Affairs, 34(12), 2095-2103.

Sommers, B. D., Shepard, M., & Hempstead, K. (2018). Why Did Employer Coverage

Fall In Massachusetts After The ACA? Potential Consequences Of A Changing Employer

Mandate. Health Affairs, 37(7), 1144-1152.