Politics and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act

Discussion: politics and the patient protection and affordable care | NURS 6050 – Policy and Advocacy for Improving Population Health | Walden University.

In terms of efforts to repeal/replace the ACA, the cost-benefit analysis of legislators being reelected greatly affected the decisions made. Due to the polarized political climate, legislators were more concerned about their reelection than the impact of repealing or replacing the ACA on the general public. A lot of legislators were concerned that their constituents would hold them responsible for any negative outcome that resulted from repealing or replacing the ACA. Thus, they made decisions that would not affect their reelection.

In terms of the impact of voters’ views on decisions by legislative leaders, the voters’ views are essential in shaping national policies. Legislative leaders are more likely to recommend or position national policies that align with their voters’ views to ensure their reelection. For instance, if the majority of the voters support a policy, legislative leaders are more likely to recommend or position such a policy to maintain their positions. However, if the voters’ views are against the policy, legislative leaders may refrain from recommending or positioning such a policy to avoid alienating their voters.

References:

Geddes, B. (2018). The politics of electoral reform: Changing the rules of democracy. Oxford University Press.

Skocpol, T. (2013). Naming the problem: What it will take to counter extremism and engage Americans in the fight against global warming. Harvard Kennedy School.