Introduction
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) safeguards health care services in the United States. It embodies numerous statutory clauses that not only affect the health care system but also creates the necessary impetus for quality and precision in the sector (Schoenewolf, 2012). Before its enactment, the health care system in the United States was fraught with inconsistencies that were detrimental to the overall quest for quality health and wellness. Due to the broad nature of its provisions, the Act may take some time to be fully implemented (Schoenewolf, 2012). However, such a challenge should not deter the implementation process because it was widely structured in a manner that supports gradual and prioritized transformation in the health care sector. The legislation has the potential to transform and improve the quality of care and support that healthcare professionals provide to patients in different health care facilities in the country if handled appropriately (Schoenewolf, 2012).
Overview of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The contents of the PPACA are indicative of the efforts that the government intends to uphold to guarantee the provision of quality health for all citizens. The most prominent function of the Act is the institutionalization of health insurance coverage as a mandatory accessory to the provision of healthcare services in the United States (Schill & Malani, 2015). The Act also ensures that all U.S. citizens strive to enlist into a health insurance scheme. As a result, it is a monumental step towards healthcare provision because it guarantees all citizens the capacity to procure health services whenever necessary. Under this clause, citizens are liable to some penalty if they fail to comply with its requirements (Askin & Moore, 2012).
The establishment of American Health Benefit Exchanges is another provision that will play a crucial role in accelerating the improvement of health care in the U.S. The above agencies are widely tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that healthcare coverage is accessible to individuals who lack the benefit of employment or financial stability (Atlas, 2013). The focus of this clause revolves around capacity building the through activation of frameworks that point towards equitable distribution of resources and labor in the health care sector. The PPACA appreciates the relevance of state health programs in stimulating health care provision and ensuring that people understand the essence and rationale for regular health checkups. The implication of such undertakings become clear the trial period is complete; therefore, they cannot lead to instant transformations (Benz et al., 2013). The Act also provides for the expansion of the existing health program to bolster and entrench the existing achievements. An example of such measures includes the strengthening of Medicaid through increased funding as well as the revitalization of its structural frameworks. The Medicaid-related changes are solely designed to include the coverage of certain segments of the population that the scheme previously overlooked (Goldsteen et al., 2012).
The PPACA is relevant to the improvement of health care services because it proposes numerous measures that not only bolster the current state of healthcare but also creates a favorable environment in support of future aspirations in the sector. For instance, it looks into the nature and extent of health care billing, including how such criteria affect the cost of healthcare services (Jacob & Cherry, 2013). If properly implemented, this Act will motivate citizens to accept and hone individual responsibility regarding their personal health and the wellness of their dependents. The cooperation between federal and state authorities is also important in ensuring that the healthcare sector is largely revamped to ensure that it aligns with standards and best practices that exist in the modern world (Niles, 2014). According to experts, the legislation is fashioned to offer practical solutions to issues and challenges that exist in the American health care sector. As expected, cautious efforts preceded the formulation of the PPACA, as stakeholders had to comprehend some of the challenges that confront the health care system in the United States. Such efforts were followed by extensive consultations and lobbying aimed at incorporating the ideas and opinions of all stakeholders. The efforts were worthwhile because they culminated into the formulation of an Act, which promises to overhaul the healthcare sector in the United States (Schill & Malani, 2015).
Conclusion
The organized changes that were introduced by the PPACA are creating the new force for action, especially in regards guaranteeing adequate and qualitative healthcare in the United States. The inputs and improvements in the current healthcare system are worthwhile because they provide individuals in the industry to learn from the past and current experiences and to sustain a future of transparency and accountability in the healthcare sector (Schill & Malani, 2015). Indeed, the PPACA improves and revamps the existing health care delivery structure, as it guarantees citizens that they can access quality healthcare services. Furthermore, the provisions of the PPACA are transformative because they activate the individual and collective willpower to improve the plight of patients who fall in the lower economic structure in the United States (Schoenewolf, 2012).
References
Askin, E & Moore, N. (2012). The Health Care Handbook: A Clear and Concise Guide to the United States Health Care System. Washington DC: Washington University in St. Louis.
Atlas, S. (2013). Reforming Americas Healthcare System: The Flawed Vision of ObamaCare. New York: Hoover Press.
Benz, J, Lowery, D & Gray, V. (2013). Interest Groups and Health Care Reform across the United States. Georgetown: Georgetown University Press.
Goldsteen, K, Goldsteen, R & Jonas, S. (2012). Jonas Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System. New York: Springer Publishing Company.
Jacob, S & Cherry, B. (2013). Contemporary Nursing: Issues, Trends, & Management. Los Angeles: Elsevier Health Sciences.
Niles, N. (2014). Basics of the U.S. Health Care System. New York: Jones & Bartlett.
Schill, M & Malani, A. (2015). The Future of Health Care Reform in the United States. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Schoenewolf, R. (2012). The Un-United States of America. Los Angeles: Dorrance Publishing.
