Build on Assignment #1. You will cover the same health problem and the same policy unless otherwise indicated by your instructor.  

Assignment #2-policy implementation on “elderly and disabled patients

Assignment #2 Title:

Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Agency Responsible:

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), particularly the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), is responsible for implementing the policy. Other agencies involved include the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Department of Labor (DOL), and the Department of the Treasury.

Enforcement:

The HHS, CMS, and IRS are responsible for enforcing the ACA. The key areas for enforcement include ensuring that individuals have health insurance coverage, ensuring that insurance companies comply with the law’s requirements, and penalizing employers who do not provide affordable health insurance to their employees.

Implementation:

The ACA is implemented through a combination of federal and state actions. The HHS and CMS oversee the implementation of the law at the federal level, while state agencies are responsible for implementing some of the law’s provisions at the state level. Local public health departments may be involved in implementing certain aspects of the law, such as outreach and education. Collaborating organizations, such as community health centers, may also be engaged to achieve the aims of the policy. Citizens, health provider organizations, and advocacy groups may also play a role in advocating for the law and educating the public. Grants may be awarded to support specific programs or initiatives related to the ACA’s goals.

Impact on Health Service Organizations:

Health Care Managers need to know the following about the ACA and its implementation:

1. The ACA requires health service organizations to provide coverage for essential health benefits, such as preventive care, hospitalization, and prescription drugs.
2. The ACA establishes various quality improvement initiatives, such as value-based payment models and accountable care organizations, which aim to improve the quality and efficiency of health care delivery.
3. The ACA includes provisions that aim to reduce health care costs, such as the establishment of health insurance marketplaces and the expansion of Medicaid eligibility.
4. The ACA has implications for health care workforce development, such as provisions that support training programs for health professionals and initiatives to improve the diversity of the health care workforce.
5. The ACA has political and economic implications, and changes to the law or its enforcement may have significant impacts on the health care industry.

Resource:

Health organizations can find updates regarding the impact of the ACA on them by consulting the HHS and CMS websites, as well as state agencies responsible for implementing the law. They can also consult professional organizations, such as the American Hospital Association and the American Medical Association, for guidance and resources.