NURS 6050 Week 7 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Example Evidence Base in Design
NURS 6050 Week 7 Discussion 1: Evidence Base in Design Example
Evidence Base in Design
One of the most recently proposed health policies is the Medicare-X Choice Act, which was introduced to Congress in 2021. By making Medicare-based plans available on the individual and small group markets, this program seeks to establish a public healthcare option. The program was inspired by the persistent problem of rising healthcare costs and the inability of many people, especially the uninsured and underinsured, to have access to affordable care (Ramachandran et al., 2021).
To facilitate the development of service partnerships and the establishment of data systems that enhance interactions among healthcare providers, the policy creates a grant program for educational institutions, community organizations, and health authorities. The policy also removes the prohibition on the Department of Health and Human Services negotiating Medicare prescription drug pricing. It raises the amount of the tax credit that can be claimed for health insurance premiums paid through an exchange.
The most important socioeconomic factors of this method are one’s level of income as well as one’s social standing. Those at lower income levels are overrepresented among the uninsured and underinsured, which restricts their ability to receive medical treatment. The Medicare-X Choice Act suggests a public option that is less costly overall and easier to get into as a possible solution to this issue.
The suggested policy is supported by the data that indicates its potential success. A study by Ghaddar (2021) shows that compared to the USA, countries with universal healthcare systems have lower healthcare expenses and better overall healthcare outcomes. In addition, the Congressional Budget Office concluded that the availability of a public option might reduce premiums on the individual market by up to fifteen percent.
Most people would gain from this public option since it would improve competition in the private insurance market, hence lowering premiums. The Medicare program has a history of successfully providing seniors with high-quality medical treatment; extending this program to a larger population may enhance health outcomes while reducing healthcare spending. Increasing competition in the private insurance sector is one way in which the Act could boost healthcare quality (Dong et al., 2022).
All consumers may benefit from the availability of a public option since private insurance providers may be forced to reduce rates and enhance services to compete. In addition, the Act would save individuals money, and since Medicare is more effective and less expensive than private insurance, therefore a public option may help the government save money.
As was previously indicated, research has revealed that healthcare expenditures and results in nations with universal healthcare systems are lower than in the United States. Medicare has a history of successfully providing seniors with high-quality medical care at affordable costs. The Medicare-X Choice Act promotes a public healthcare option that is supported by the evidence above, as it would result in more benefits to the public when it comes to healthcare.
This strategy has the potential to enhance the health and well-being of many people, especially the most disadvantaged, by tackling the problem of rising healthcare costs and the lack of access to affordable healthcare. When the policy is implemented, there will be affordable and high-quality care delivery to many people.
References
Dong, X., Gindling, T. H., & Miller, N. A. (2022). Effects of the Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act on health insurance coverage, healthcare access, and use for people with disabilities. Disability and Health Journal, 15(1), 101180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101180
Ghaddar, S. (2021). Medicare for all: A health insurance literacy perspective. HLRP: Health Literacy Research and Practice, 5(4), e272-e275. https://doi.org/10.3928/24748307-20210908-01
Ramachandran, S., Gravlee, E., & Pate, A. N. (2021). Pharmacists need to participate and pay closer attention to the Medicare for All discussion. Journal of the American Pharmacists Association, 61(4), e225-e229. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.japh.2021.02.017