Governance and policy heavily influence healthcare practice. After reading Shi & Singh’s chapter 13 on health policy, consider a healthcare topic that draws your interest (possibly your future research topic).
Consider how the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010) (ACA) facilitates your idea to improve health or how the act challenges your idea for improved health outcomes.
Explain the effects of the ACA on a healthcare topic in your area of professional interest. Describe ways the ACA will influence you as a scholar, practitioner, and leader.
2, you will choose a health care policy that interests you and create an outlining the policy and how you would take the lead in ensuring compliance within your organization.
a health care law, policy, or regulation that interests you. You can locate relevant information on the Laws and Regulations page of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website.
This is for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a professional.
1. ACA’s Impact on Mental Health Parity
-
My Interest: My research interest lies in improving access to mental health services, particularly for underserved populations.
-
ACA’s Facilitation: The ACA significantly advanced mental health parity by requiring most health insurance plans to cover mental health and substance use disorder benefits at the same level as medical and surgical benefits. This parity applies to deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and out-of-pocket maximums.
-
ACA’s Challenges: While the ACA mandated parity, challenges remain. These include:
- Limited provider networks: Many mental health providers do not participate in insurance networks, hindering access for insured individuals.
- Stigma and discrimination: Despite legal protections, stigma and discrimination against individuals with mental health conditions persist, impacting access to care.
- Inadequate reimbursement rates: Reimbursement rates for mental health services may still be lower than for medical services, discouraging providers from accepting insurance.
- Limited provider networks: Many mental health providers do not participate in insurance networks, hindering access for insured individuals.
-
Effects on Healthcare: The ACA’s mental health parity provisions have increased access to care for many individuals, leading to improved mental health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs associated with untreated mental illness.
-
Influence on Me:
- Scholar: I can research the effectiveness of the ACA’s mental health parity provisions, identify disparities in access to care, and advocate for policies that further improve mental health care delivery.
- Practitioner: As a mental health professional, I can educate patients about their rights under the ACA, advocate for fair reimbursement rates, and work to reduce stigma within the healthcare system.
- Leader: I can advocate for policies that expand access to mental health services, address provider shortages, and improve the quality of mental health care.
2. Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act
- My Interest: The HITECH Act, a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, incentivizes the adoption and meaningful use of electronic health records (EHRs) by healthcare providers.
- Policy Outline:
- Objective: To improve the quality, safety, and efficiency of healthcare through the widespread use of interoperable health information technology.
- Key Provisions:
- Financial incentives for providers to adopt and meaningfully use EHRs.
- Standards for data exchange and privacy and security protections for electronic health information.
- Support for health information exchanges to facilitate the sharing of patient data among providers.
- Leading Compliance:
- Assess Current State: Conduct a thorough assessment of the organization’s current EHR system and identify areas for improvement in data quality, security, and interoperability.
- Develop a Compliance Plan: Create a comprehensive plan that outlines the steps necessary to meet HITECH Act requirements, including:
- Meaningful Use Attestation: Ensure the organization meets the criteria for meaningful use of EHRs, such as e-prescribing, patient portal access, and clinical decision support.
- Data Security and Privacy: Implement robust security measures to protect patient data, including firewalls, encryption, and access controls.
- Data Exchange: Establish connections with other healthcare providers and health information exchanges to facilitate the sharing of patient information.
- Train Staff: Provide comprehensive training to all staff members on the use of EHRs, data security protocols, and patient privacy regulations.
- Monitor and Evaluate: Regularly monitor the organization’s compliance with HITECH Act requirements and make necessary adjustments to the compliance plan.
- Stay Informed: Stay abreast of changes to HITECH Act regulations and best practices for EHR implementation and use.
Disclaimer: This information is for general knowledge and discussion purposes only. It does not constitute legal or professional advice.
Recent Comments