Describe the scope of the federal policy or legislation (describe specific provisions from the law and how they are meant to address the health issue) and the anticipated impact.

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a federal law that was passed in 2010 with the intention of providing affordable health care coverage to all Americans. The ACA instituted several policies and provisions that address access, cost, quality, and delivery of health care services.

One major component of the ACA is the expansion of Medicaid eligibility. Specifically, it allows states to expand their Medicaid programs to cover individuals under the age of 65 whose incomes are up to 138% above the poverty line ($17,506 for an individual). This expansion provides greater access to health care services for those who previously could not afford them or were unable to qualify due to limited income requirements. Another provision from the law is subsidies for individuals purchasing private insurance plans on state and federal exchanges created by the ACA as well as tax credits for small businesses offering employee-sponsored insurance plans. These subsidies and credits help reduce out-of-pocket costs associated with accessing health care services making it more accessible for those with lower incomes or disabilities.

Finally, another key component of the ACA includes implementing preventative measures such as eliminating cost sharing requirements on certain preventative screenings which helps ensure individuals can receive preventive services without any additional financial burden that might have prevented them from obtaining these services prior to this policy being enacted.

Overall, through these provisions, it is anticipated that there will be increases in access and affordability when it comes to obtaining necessary health care services as well as an increase in overall quality due to increased focus on preventative measures. This should result in improved overall population health outcomes moving forward over time.