This course has been an eye-opener on issues covering the difficulties health practitioners goes through in terms of their own medical cover, pension, and enumerations. Although health practitioner gives care to the general public and work tirelessly to ensure we have a healthy society, practitioners also need access to health care whenever they fall ill or get injured in the course of discharging their duties. Additionally, as they leave this profession at their retirement age, it is essential for them to continue living a normal life and also enjoy having access to health care. Thus, this course has been informative in educating me about my rights as a nurse and what the law has specified what I am entitled to as nurse when I get employed in near future and what are my obligations in ensuring my employer obey labor laws. On the other hand, class discussions, course materials, lectures, and assignments have been instrumental in having a comprehensive understanding of this course and duties of a nurse. However, I wish we could have more class discussions and debates to analyze typical issues affecting nurses at the workplace and provide practical solutions to the problems identified. The world is changing on a daily basis and cultural diversity is a common phenomenon. Therefore, class discussions and debates will be a plus to the normal lectures and routine. These two interventions will keep students more updated on the current events, discoveries and dynamics in health care than textbooks and other class readings which might have been passed by events since laws keep changing often. On the other hand, I want to learn more about Medicaid since I am interested in carrying out individual research in this area. Nevertheless, the class atmosphere and the mode of teaching are excellent since I have not faced any difficulties in comprehending the reading materials provided. I also get quick responses to my questions, this is quite commendable.
Reaction notes
ERISA although it is a federal law which concentrates on the voluntary private pension scheme, to some great extent it provides an essential information and guidelines which employees can use to access information about their retirement pension plans once they have been established by their employers. It also provides protection to individuals who have to take this private scheme to ensure these persons after retiring from work have insurance cover to cater for their health needs (United States Department of Labor, 2016). It is an important law since it ensures the employees or beneficiaries does not lose their money to fraudulent employers or insurance company.
Notably, during emergency cases, it is extremely hard to establish whether a person has insurance cover or not. In a rush to save life of a patient who requires immediate care EMTALA provide solace to both the patient and health practitioners since this law requires a person to be given care irrespective of their ability to pay or whether he/she has an insurance cover to cater for the cost of the treatment or stabilization procedures (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2012). As such, this law is vital in assuring access to health care is maintained at all time and lives are saved. This law is critical especially during emergency situations such as terrorist attack, road accidents or fire outbreaks whereby victims of these events can access treatment in the nearest health center without difficulties.
In the event an employee loses his/her job abruptly or voluntary resign, COBRA provides a grace period for workers and their families to continue with their insurance cover for a limited period of time (United States Department of Labor, 2016). This law is important since it gives a person time to look for an alternative plan before their medical cover expires. As such, individuals who have just lost their jobs will not be exposed to double tragedy of losing their medical cover apart from their income. Therefore, this law prevents worse outcomes such as depression in case an employee loses his/her job.
At times, some employees might require special treatment which might be covered by other ordinary insurance covers. For this case, HMO Act provides a solution, since it allows employees, employer, and health providers to enter into an agreement which will ensure employees’ access medical cover for their special needs is guaranteed.
In conclusion ERISA, HMO Act, COBRA, EMTALA are essential laws which ensure access to health care to a great extent is a guarantee. As such, these laws play a significant role in keeping citizens healthy.
References
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (2012). Emergency Medical Treatment & Labor Act (EMTALA) - Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Retrieved from https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Legislation/EMTALA/
United States Department of Labor. (2016). Health Plans & Benefits: ERISA | United States Department of Labor. Retrieved from https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa
