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In the wake of a recent presidential election, healthcare professionals are acutely aware of how political decisions and policies can have a significant impact on patient populations. Politics and healthcare are inherently interconnected, and the presence of federally driven healthcare insurance policies means that the government plays a pivotal role in the utilization of insurance. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) marked a significant step in making healthcare more affordable, accessible, and comprehensive, despite its associated costs.
Cost-Benefit Analysis
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The ACA not only established a legal framework but also introduced provisions to enhance the affordability and accessibility of healthcare. While it did increase federal healthcare expenses, it simultaneously aimed to improve the value of healthcare. Benefit-cost analysis (BCA) is a method used to evaluate the pros and cons of policy changes. In this context, we analyze the potential effects on legislators’ re-election prospects regarding the efforts to repeal or replace the ACA.
Voters’ Influence on Decisions
During election years, legislators often face increased pressure, and their decisions are influenced by the need for re-election. The repeal or replacement of the ACA becomes a prominent issue during these times. Legislators are driven by the desire to stay in office or leave on their own terms. To secure votes from constituents, they must align with the prevailing political climate. This political environment directly impacts Medicare and Medicaid, and the potential repeal of the ACA could lead to millions of people losing Medicaid coverage. States would face substantial increases in spending, potentially affecting Medicaid programs and patient populations. The legislators’ votes on these matters can significantly influence their chances of re-election.
Conclusion
Healthcare policy is undeniably intertwined with the political arena, as both patients and politicians have varying perspectives on healthcare needs. The presence of healthcare advocates in political offices is crucial to ensure that the voices of the patient population are heard and considered in policy decisions.
References
– Buettgens, M., Blumberg, L. J., Holahan, J., & Ndwandwe, S. (2016). The Cost of ACA Repeal. Urban Institute. doi: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/81296/2000806-The-Cost-of-the-ACA-Repeal.pdf
– How the ACA dented the cost Curve | Health Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01478
– Portney, P., Horwitz, S., Munger, M., Norton, R., Ehrbar, A., & Hardin, G. (n.d.). Benefit-cost analysis. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/BenefitCostAnalysis.html
Discussion: Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The relationship between politics and healthcare is a complex and dynamic one. Political decisions, especially those related to healthcare policies, have a direct impact on patient populations. During an election year, legislators often adjust their priorities and actions to cater to the interests of their constituents, which can include positions on healthcare policies such as the ACA.
The primary goal of legislators is to secure re-election, which can be influenced by votes and dollars. Thus, the cost-benefit analysis becomes crucial in shaping their stance on various policies. In the case of the ACA, legislators had to weigh the pros and cons of supporting or opposing it, considering how their positions would affect their re-election prospects.
Voters’ views play a substantial role in shaping legislators’ decisions. In election years, when the pressure is high, legislators must be attuned to the political climate and the views of their constituents. The potential consequences of their votes, such as the number of people losing Medicaid coverage or the impact on healthcare spending in their states, can directly impact their re-election chances.
In conclusion, healthcare policy decisions are intricately tied to politics, and legislators must balance their desire for re-election with the needs and opinions of their constituents. Healthcare advocates in the political arena serve as a bridge between the two, ensuring that the voices of the patient population are considered in policymaking.
As we just went through a political race for president. Us who work in healthcare know the effects of how policies and legislation can be shown to make improvements on patient populations. In the world of politics as long as there if federal driven healthcare insurance policies, the federal government will always have a say on how that insurance is utilized. Politics and healthcare are enviable.
Cost Benefit Analysis
Affordable Healthcare was an initiative to the Affordable Care Act. This was not only implemented as a law, but provisions that made the healthcare more affordable, accessible, and comprehensive. Even though the initiation of the ACA added to the federal expenses for healthcare, setting that a side the ACA also reduced costs for Medicare payment with a target goal to increase value (Buettgens, Blumberg, Holahan, & Ndwandwe, 2016). A form of benefit-cost analysis is when an organization’s decisions are based on the results of a benefit from an action and then the organization is able to outweigh the consequences from that decision NURS 6050 week 3 Discussion: Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. When discussing change in a public format a formal BCA can be at time a controversial strategy for evaluating the pros and cons with a possible policy change (Portney et al.). In this case we are looking at the pros or cons of legislators being reelected and how it affected the efforts of repealing/ replacing the ACA (Portney et al.)
Voters Views affect Decisions
It is seen in the year headed towards re-election, electoral pressure affecting the legislators they start to adjust their bill production. In election years we can guess to see an elevated pressure on certain legislation and one to note would the repeal/ replacement of the ACA. Legislator’s main goal is to remain in office and get re-elected or at least leave on their own terms. In order for legislators to get the votes from their constituents they must be aware of the political climate, but also that certain votes can affect whether they would stay in office. For Legislators to be able to know the issues and how it currently stands. So, when talking about congress and where they stand with Medicare and Medicaid, with the repeal of the ACA showing that there would be 14.5 million fewer people with Medicaid coverage in 2021 (How the ACA dented the cost Curve | Health Affairs, n.d.). Our states spending would substantially increase by billions over a decade of time staring in 2017 with hope that Medicaid reductions would balance out these increases. Many states have expressed their concern if the ACA repeal were to take place that the Medicaid program would start to experience short falls and affecting that patient population How the ACA dented the cost Curve | Health Affairs, n.d.). Significantly less health care would be provided to modest- and low- income families the affects if legislators vote could then ultimately determine if they will get reelected for another year (How the ACA dented the cost Curve | Health Affairs, n.d.) NURS 6050 week 3 Discussion: Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
Conclusion:
To conclude healthcare and what is being implemented within the healthcare organization will always be dictated by the political arena. From the patient to the politician what they both feel the needs of the patients’ healthcare are vary. That is why it is important to understand the need as to why there are healthcare advocates in the political office to ensure that the patient population voices are heard.
Buettgens, M., Blumberg, L. J., Holahan, J., & Ndwandwe, S. (2016). The Cost of ACA Repeal. Urban Institute. doi: http://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/81296/2000806-The-Cost-of-the-ACA-Repeal.pdf
How the ACA dented the cost Curve | Health Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/full/10.1377/hlthaff.2019.01478
Portney, P., Horwitz, S., Munger, M., Norton, R., Ehrbar, A., & Hardin, G. (n.d.). Benefit-cost analysis. Retrieved March 12, 2021, from https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/BenefitCostAnalysis.html
Regardless of political affiliation, individuals often grow concerned when considering perceived competing interests of government and their impact on topics of interest to them. The realm of healthcare is no different. Some people feel that local, state, and federal policies and legislation can be either helped or hindered by interests other than the benefit to society.
Consider for example that the number one job of a legislator is to be reelected. Cost can be measured in votes as well as dollars. Thus, it is important to consider the legislator’s perspective on either promoting or not promoting a certain initiative in the political landscape NURS 6050 week 3 Discussion: Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
To Prepare:
Post an explanation for how you think the cost-benefit analysis in terms of legislators being reelected affected efforts to repeal/replace the ACA. Then, explain how analyses of the voters views may affect decisions by legislative leaders in recommending or positioning national policies (e.g., Congress’ decisions impacting Medicare or Medicaid). Remember, the number one job of a legislator is to be re-elected. Please check your discussion grading rubric to ensure your responses meet the criteria.
Respond to at least two of your colleagues* on two different days by expanding on their explanation and providing an example that supports their explanation or respectfully challenging their explanation and providing an example NURS 6050 week 3 Discussion: Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
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