The purpose of this paper is to examinine scholarly articles and studies to analyze the effectiveness of promoting preventative health care as proposed by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the impact this will have on overall US health care expenditures. There are many benefits that come with promoting preventative care such as, better quality of life, longer life span, and less expense on long term care. The ACA is very committed to preventative initiatives that are implemented by Accountable Care Organizations (ACO’s). However, there are substantial costs that comes with the US promoting and enacting preventative health care measures. This paper will explore the ACA’s plan to promote preventative healthcare, as well as, analyze the monetary
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One of the main arguments in support of the ACA is that promoting better health access and quality, which will in turn lead to better quality of life for the US population. The role of primary care physicians is being promoted and pushed to change the face of US healthcare from curative medicine to preventative medicine. However, the initiative of the ACA to promote preventative care to decrease overall healthcare spending remains to be a debated topic. “The United States spends a larger share of its gross domestic product (GPD) on health care than any other major industrialized country” (Agency for Healthcare research and Quality [AHRQ], 2002). However, American’s health is not better than that of citizens of comparable countries. Improving the practice of health care in America from merely treating diseases to preventing diseases is a step in the right direction.
“Today, chronic diseases- coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma- are the nation’s leading causes of illness and death. Given the continued aging of the population, both the prevalence and costs of chronic disease will continue to rise. Much of the growing burden of chronic disease is preventable” (Orleans and Cassidy, 2011, p. …show more content…
Another aspect of a good preventative care, would include patient care providers starting “a therapeutic consultation program, including drug utilization reviews and disease management programs, it would reduce costs by improving outcomes for patients with chronic conditions” (Xerox Corp., 2012). Enacting preventative health policies and incentivizing preventative health practices will lead to lower cost of care and better quality of life for future generations. Even with preventative health as a key focus, there are many aspects of prevention that are costly. The US government has already allocated 750 million dollars to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (HHS.gov, 2011). This amount does not include how much the government has allocated to the ACO’s that are helping to enact the initiatives outlined in the 750
One of the main arguments in support of the ACA is that promoting better health access and quality, which will in turn lead to better quality of life for the US population. The role of primary care physicians is being promoted and pushed to change the face of US healthcare from curative medicine to preventative medicine. However, the initiative of the ACA to promote preventative care to decrease overall healthcare spending remains to be a debated topic. “The United States spends a larger share of its gross domestic product (GPD) on health care than any other major industrialized country” (Agency for Healthcare research and Quality [AHRQ], 2002). However, American’s health is not better than that of citizens of comparable countries. Improving the practice of health care in America from merely treating diseases to preventing diseases is a step in the right direction.
“Today, chronic diseases- coronary heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and asthma- are the nation’s leading causes of illness and death. Given the continued aging of the population, both the prevalence and costs of chronic disease will continue to rise. Much of the growing burden of chronic disease is preventable” (Orleans and Cassidy, 2011, p. …show more content…
Another aspect of a good preventative care, would include patient care providers starting “a therapeutic consultation program, including drug utilization reviews and disease management programs, it would reduce costs by improving outcomes for patients with chronic conditions” (Xerox Corp., 2012). Enacting preventative health policies and incentivizing preventative health practices will lead to lower cost of care and better quality of life for future generations. Even with preventative health as a key focus, there are many aspects of prevention that are costly. The US government has already allocated 750 million dollars to the Prevention and Public Health Fund (HHS.gov, 2011). This amount does not include how much the government has allocated to the ACO’s that are helping to enact the initiatives outlined in the 750