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Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare
| Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation | The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA 2010)
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Description |
This is a piece of healthcare policy that revolutionized access to quality healthcare as a social determinant of health for the poor and marginalized in the US. It introduced the concept of individual mandate whereby every person is expected as a matter of course to take the health cover. For those employed, the employer is obligated to pay for them. A total of another twenty million Americans of little or no means have since been brought into the healthcare coverage bracket because of ACA 2010 (HealthCare.gov, n.d; Manchikanti et al., 2017) Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example. |
| How was the success of the program or policy measured?
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The success of the program was measure by the number of those previously uninsured who were able to be brought into the coverage fold. This figure has been estimated at 20 million Americans. The other measure of success was the fact that now individuals with pre-existing conditions would be able to receive coverage through monetary incentives given to the payers that cover them. To demonstrate how powerful this measure was, opponents such as former President Trump attempted to repeal and replace this provision because it allegedly hurt private business (Thompson, 2018; AAFP, n.d.). |
| How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
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The number of persons reached by this policy was approximately 20 million persons. Most of these are from marginalized minority communities such as African Americans. They have limited means due to unfavorable social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The impact of the program was immense. For instance, persons with pre-existing conditions who normally have to regularly visit the hospital and take medications are now covered (Thompson, 2018; Manchikanti et al., 2017). |
| What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
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The data used for evaluation came from the US Department of Human Services as well as Medicare. |
| What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
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The specific information on unintended consequences was that relating to the individual mandate provision in the policy. It has now become clear that even though this was well-intended, many poor Americans with no employment still cannot pay even those reduced premiums and end up having to pay a penalty as stipulated by the law. This appears to be double punishment (Sweeney, 2018). |
| What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples. | The stakeholders identified in the evaluation of the policy include the federal government, Medicare and Medicaid, state governments, private payers, providers, and the American citizens. Those who stand to benefit most from the reporting or policy evaluation are payers including Medicare and Medicaid; as well as the federal government. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The latter uses this evaluation and reporting to assess the success or failure of the healthcare policy that is ACA 2010. |
| Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
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The policy indeed met the original intent as it enabled another 20 million Americans to access healthcare. However, there is a downside to the success in that the individual mandate has proven to be a punishment rather than a helping move. Many poor citizens with no jobs are finding themselves required to pay penalties just for bei
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