Key Goals Of PPACA Implementation

PPACA Paper Student’s Name Institution PPACA Paper The implementation of PPACA in 2010 marked a significant change in the delivery of healthcare in the US. The country’s healthcare system had been experiencing challenges for a long time with the main one being the escalating costs. The implementation of the legislation sought to address some of the challenges, including costs and access to insurance coverage. This paper argues that PPACA is an improvement to the country’s healthcare system due to the expansion of health coverage, financing policy, and quality. However, there are still opportunities for improvement. A key goal of PPACA implementation was to expand health coverage to US citizens. Low insurance coverage was one of the key challenges facing the country’s healthcare system prior to the enactment of the legislation. As noted by Durenberger (2015), broadening coverage is at the heart of the legislation. Therefore, the legislation gave millions of Americans without coverage the opportunity to access health coverage and consequently health services. As informed by Sommers, Maylone, Blendon, Orav, and Epstein (2017), as a result of the implementation of the legislation, 20 million people attained insurance coverage. It is deducible that the legislation improved the health care system because it helped more people access health services. With health cover taken care of, people can worry about other important life issues to make their lives more fulfilling. In his article, Bagley (2015) provides an example of his kids’ piano teacher, whom without PPACA, would have been unable to access private coverage due to affordability. As noted by the author, the tax credits offered by the legislation gave her an opportunity to have health coverage. The tax credits offered by the legislation allow low-income families and individuals such as the teacher to purchase coverage. Therefore, a key pro of the legislation is that it allows low-income families and individuals to have access to insurance coverage. This helps it attain the goal of expanding health insurance coverage for citizens of the country. Another factor that makes PPACA legislation an improvement to the country’s healthcare system is its financing policy. As informed by Durenberger (2015), the legislation changes the reimbursement model from fee-for-service (FFS) to value-based. It is important to point out that under FFS, healthcare professionals and providers are reimbursed based on the number of services provided or procedures ordered. With the model proposed by the legislation, quality and cost outcomes of care taken into consideration. It is obvious that the latter model is associated with important healthcare outcomes. The move towards a value-based system of reimbursement means that healthcare providers and professionals are paid based on their performance. They have an incentive to improve the US healthcare system. Therefore, it is safe...