Affordable Healthcare Act in North Carolina Essay

Affordable healthcare coverage for all Americans was a challenge the government faced. The United States was the only developed country without national health care system in place for citizens. The government actively sought to provide affordable insurance while controlling escalating costs and improving quality care. Americans deserve to have an opportunity to prevent chronic illnesses before they transpire. The purpose of this paper is to discuss how the Affordable Healthcare Act impacted North Carolina, its impact on economics, and ethical implications. Impact of the Affordable Care Act on the Population The Affordable Care Act made a positive impact on the lower class Americans in North Carolina. People without insurance are less likely to go to the doctor due to costs. As a result, urgent care or the emergency rooms end up being their plan of care. Americans without health insurance â€Å"have less access to effective clinical services including preventive care and, if sick or injured, are more likely to suffer poorer health outcomes, greater limitations in quality of life, and premature death† (Institute of Medicine, 2009, p. 49). In 2011, childless, nondisabled, nonelderly adults, unemployed or homeless could not qualify for Medicaid (Milstead, 2013). According to the case study figures one (2009) and two (2014) provided by Milstead (2013), there was an increase of 62% in children between the ages of 6-18 years that are currently receiving health care though the Affordable Care Act. There are several factors that may have contributed to the increase of enrollees such as si mple requirements, pamphlets, websites, and healthcare professionals educated about the quality of care. This act will assist healthcare professionals in promoting primary prevention. This in turn, will assist in preventing advanced disease processes. Quality of care will improve with both the collaboration of an interdisciplinary team as well as preventative measures. Patients want fast and convenient access to quality care (White, 2011). The Impact of economics on patient care Economic status should not be a consideration when providing care. The wealthy can buy their way out of any approaches that limit choice or  restrict access to what is judged more convenient and perhaps higher quality care (Knickman & Kovner, 2011). Even within the United States, expenditures on health care vary a great deal across communities and states with little to no difference in health outcomes. In essence, cost containment in health care will happen if we can figure out how to invest in healthy lifestyles in ways that lead to long-term financial and health returns (Knickman, 2011). Preventive care is the best way to reduce health care costs. Relationship between patients’ quality care and cost The Affordable Care Act will provide individuals with health insurance and reimbursement will be based on quality and volume of individuals a clinician treats (Siberman et al, 2011). Because of the Affordable Care Act, there should be an increase of competent clinicians to treat and prevent chronic diseases. In order to receive quality care, health care providers must make ethical decisions about care, not decisions based off how much care would cost. Ethical implications of the act for organization and patient Ethical decision making involves explicit questions that should be answered in order to decide whether the proposed action is good or morally correct. Ethics applies to the determination of right and wrong in how people relate to one another. It is essential that all clinicians have ethics in mind when determining care. The education of professionals is included in the Affordable Care Act in hopes to increase quality of care, access, and treatment of patients (Kohlenberg, 2011). Clinicians should make appropriate decisions when ordering diagnostic tests to make sure they are not wasting the organization’s money yet still providing exceptional care. Conclusion The government actively sought to provide affordable insurance while controlling escalating costs and improving quality care. The Affordable Care Act made a positive impact on the lower class Americans in North Carolina. Economic status should not be a consideration when providing care. The Affordable Care Act will provide individuals with health insurance and reimbursement will be based on quality and volume of individuals a clinician treats (Siberman et al, 2011). In order to receive quality care, health care  providers must make ethical decisions about care, not decisions based off how much care would cost. It is essential that all clinicians have ethics in mind when determining care. In the end, patients want fast and convenient access to quality care (White, 2011). Reference Institute of Medicine.(2009). Uninsured Americans. In A. Kovner & J. Knickman. Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States. Springer Publishing Company, LLC. Laureate Education, Inc. Knickman, J. & Kovner, A. (2009). The Future of Health Care Delivery in the United States. Springer Publishing Company, LLC. Laureate Education, Inc. Kohlenberg, E. (2011). Contribution of nursing education programs to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. North Carolina Medical Journal, 72(4), 289-292. Siberman, P. (2011). Implementation of the Affordable Care Act in North Carolina. North Carolina Medical Journal, 72(2), 155-159. White, H. (2011). What is Cost, Anyway? In A. Kovner & J. Knickman. Jonas & Kovner’s Health Care Delivery in the United States. Springer Publishing Company, LLC. 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