Health Care and Affordable Care Act Essay

Changing landscape of healthcare
Nicole Anderson
HCS/490
02/02/2015
Eboni Green
Changing landscape of healthcare
Obama care is one aspect of change in health care. What changes have been made since this act has taken place? What are some current and potential challenges that may take place or already have? How are law makers addressing these challenges? What are some of the challenges consumers may face with the health care reform act? While changing the landscape may be hard to adapt to, I will answer the above questions. Therefore by the end of this paper one will know what Obama care is, and also understand the changes and some challenges.
According to what is Obamacare? (2015), Obamacare also known as the Affordable Care Act it is a US Law aiming to reform the American health care system. The Affordable Care Act was signed by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. This act allows consumers to have health benefits, choices and rights that can be protected. Through the Affordable care act consumers can go directly to the market place and purchase plans. These plans are federally regulated and subsidized, so that they are affordable. Consumers can only enroll during open enrollment periods for Obama care. Therefore everyone without care is urged to sign up to prevent penalties and ensure adequate health care.
The biggest change to health insurance is the health care reform act. This act is to ensure every person that they can afford health care. Medicare has had the largest impact on change with the Affordable Care Act. Medicare reductions would add up to $716 billion in 10 years, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office NewsMax, (2015). The reductions made can potentially lead to cuts in benefits and in return dilute the level of care given to seniors. Therefore senior citizens would be impacted the most with Obama care.
The Independent Payment Advisory Board has been another controversial group with Obama care. This group is composed of 15 experts. They have the power to cut spending and make other health care decisions. The powers to make these decisions were given to them by the President and the Senate. The drive behind the board is that they will make tough decisions that may be politically difficult for Congress or the President to implement. Below is a chart that indicates the fiscal effects of the Affordable Care Act according to Business Insider, (2012),

While some people may think the effect of Obama care will be supply and demand, others will disagree. When I use the term supply and demand think of it as doctor to patient ratio, forcing health care on everyone will increase the need for more doctors. According to a compilation of workforce study and reports every state was in need of physicians The Heritage Foundation, (2014). The demographics in the US in regards to population are 315 million and growing. The study means that by the year 2030 75 million Americans will be 65 years and older. The effect this will have on the health care workforce is chronic illness and stress. That just simply means that this may cause health care workers in disproportioned areas to provide quality care. According to the New York Times Thomson Reuters, private equity investment, usually the lifeblood for entrepreneurialism has dropped by an astonishing 65 percent in the health care sector this year (2013).
The best solution is would be to put an emphasis on team work. This means pairing doctors, nurse practitioners and physician’s assistance to in a group that collectively works together. According to the Guardian, (2014), there is no need for more doctors, but make physicians more productive by using PA’s and NP’s. According to a recent study by the Guardian (2012), the affordable care act can cut the doctor shortage in half in two steps.
1. By expanding nurse-managed Community Health Centers that serve low-income patients who now often receive their care in ERs.
2. Reward

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The Affordable Health Care Act (Obama Care)