The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was passed into legislation in March of 2010. Identify the impact of this legislation on your nursing practice by choosing two key nursing provisions outlined in the topic material “Nursing and Health Reform.” Discuss how these two provisions have impacted, or will impact, your current practice of nursing. Purchase the answer to view it Purchase the answer to view it
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or Obamacare, was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. This landmark legislation aimed to provide affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare to all Americans. The ACA has several provisions that specifically impact the nursing profession. Two key nursing provisions outlined in the topic material “Nursing and Health Reform” are the expansion of Medicaid and the emphasis on preventive care. In this essay, I will discuss how these provisions have impacted and will continue to impact my current nursing practice.
One of the key provisions of the ACA is the expansion of Medicaid, a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage to low-income individuals and families. Prior to the ACA, Medicaid eligibility was limited to certain categories of individuals, such as pregnant women, children, and disabled adults. Under the ACA, the income eligibility criteria for Medicaid were expanded, allowing more individuals and families to qualify for Medicaid coverage. This expansion has significantly increased access to healthcare for low-income individuals, including many of the patients I encounter in my nursing practice.
As a nurse, I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact of Medicaid expansion on my patients. Many of these individuals previously lacked health insurance and struggled to access necessary healthcare services. With the expansion of Medicaid, they now have access to affordable healthcare coverage, allowing them to receive preventive care, manage chronic conditions, and seek necessary medical treatment without financial barriers. This has resulted in improved health outcomes, reduced emergency room visits, and overall better healthcare utilization among this population.
In my current nursing practice, I work in a primary care clinic that primarily serves low-income individuals and families. Since the implementation of the ACA and the expansion of Medicaid, I have seen an increase in the number of patients coming in for routine check-ups, screenings, and prevention services. Patients who were previously unable to afford these preventive measures are now able to access them through their Medicaid coverage. This has led to early detection and management of chronic conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, which in turn has resulted in better health outcomes for these patients.
Another important provision of the ACA that has had a significant impact on nursing practice is the emphasis on preventive care. The ACA includes several measures aimed at promoting preventive care, such as the inclusion of preventive services with no cost-sharing (e.g., vaccines, mammograms, screenings) and the establishment of the Prevention and Public Health Fund. These measures are intended to shift the focus of healthcare from treating illnesses to preventing them in the first place.
As a nurse, I am responsible for promoting and delivering preventive care to my patients. The emphasis on preventive care under the ACA has provided me with new opportunities to educate and empower my patients to take control of their health. I now have the resources and support to offer preventive services, such as vaccinations and screenings, to my patients at no additional cost. This has resulted in increased patient compliance with preventive care recommendations, leading to better health outcomes and a reduction in the incidence of preventable diseases.
In conclusion, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act has had a significant impact on nursing practice, particularly through the expansion of Medicaid and the emphasis on preventive care. The expansion of Medicaid has increased access to healthcare for low-income individuals, resulting in improved health outcomes and better healthcare utilization. The emphasis on preventive care has provided nurses with opportunities to promote and deliver preventive services, leading to better health outcomes and a reduction in preventable diseases. As a nurse, I have seen firsthand the positive impact of these provisions on my patients and their overall well-being.