How will the ACA help eliminate some of the variations that currently exists among states in terms of access, quality, and cost of care?

How will the ACA help eliminate some of the variations that currently exists among states in terms of access, quality, and cost of care?
“ANA believes that health care is a basic human right (ANA, 1989, ANA, 1998, ANA 2005). Thus, ANA reaffirms its support for a restructured health care system that assures universal access to a standard package of essential health care services for all citizens and residents.”

“ANA believes that the development and implementation of health policies that reflect the six Institute of Medicine (IOM) aims (Safe/Effective/Patient-centered/Timely/Efficient/Equitable) and are based on outcomes research will ultimately save money.”
“The system must be reshaped and redirected away from the overuse of expensive, technology-driven, acute, hospital-based services in the model we now have, to one in which a balance is struck between high-tech treatment and community-based and preventive services, with emphasis on the latter. The solution is to invert the pyramid and focus more on primary care, thus ultimately requiring less costly secondary and tertiary care.”
Activity:

Please read the attached Health Policy Brief on Basic Health Program and “Nursing’s Role in healthcare reform” from American Nurse Today.

Please go to www.rnaction.org, go to the Take Action tab above to access the following information regarding health care reform and the new Affordable Care Act. Scroll down the page to the heading Resources and Supreme Court Challenge to learn more about the health care reform and how it affects you as a nurse and as an individual with a family. Check out all the different information.

HealthCare.gov
Keeping health care reform healthy, patients informed
New Animation Explains Changes Coming for Americans Under Obamacare (7/13)
Health Care Transformation: The Affordable Care Act and How it Affects Nurses (3/12)
Health Care Reform Legislation Timeline
ANA Policy and Provisions of Health Reform Law
National Conference of State Legislatures Health Reform Site
Kaiser Family Foundation Health Reform Page

The Supreme Court Decision Matters for Registered Nurses, their Families, and their Patients
ANA Analysis: Supreme Court Arguments on the ACA
ANA to Supreme Court: ‘Individual Mandate’ Needed to Make Health Reform Work

Then proceed to the Kaiser Foundation to watch the following: http://kff.org

““Health Care Reform Hits Main Street on the Kaiser Foundation website or Youtube. (2010)

“New Animation Explains Changes Coming to Americans under Obamacare” (2013) Youtube or Kaiser Foundation

“Health insurance Explained: YouToons Have it Covered” (2014) Youtube or Kaiser Foundation

If you would like more information regarding the ACA, the Kaiser Foundation is a great source and cover many issues. http://kff.org

Link:

Discussion

After viewing the video and reading the articles, reviewing the information and links provided, discuss your thoughts about the new health care reform. Some discussion points might be how the ACA is affecting nurses and nursing practice? How will ACA help control costs and improve quality of care? How will the ACA help eliminate some of the variations that currently exists among states in terms of access, quality, and cost of care? What is your state doing in regards to the Exchange Program and/or expansion of Medicaid? What are the challenges now for health care reform if it is not repealed by the next congress? Please share your own personal or professional experiences regarding the ACA, along with any new information, websites or videos that you think would add to the discussion. These are just some guidelines, but remember this is a scholarly post and should demonstrate critical reflection of the problem to promote vigorous discussion of the topic among your peers. Your response to a peer should be more than “I agree or disagree”.

Additionally, your initial post must be posted by midnight Saturday to allow time for responses by group members. Failure to do initial post by Saturday at midnight will result in a 2 point deduction from your score for that discussion. You must also respond to at least 2 other postings in your group by midnight Monday to receive the full point assignment.