UNIVERSITY OF THE PEOPLE TERM -4 HS 3810-01 Health Systems and Structures - AY2024-T4 Unit 5. WRITTEN ASSIGNMENT May 2024 Introduction: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) of 2010 brought significant reforms and reshaped the healthcare sector in the United States. This paper aims to outline the key changes introduced by the ACA and analyze both the achievements and challenges in population health, particularly in terms of access to healthcare services. Reforms and Reshaping the Healthcare Sector: The ACA aims to expand access to affordable, quality healthcare for all Americans. It introduced several reforms, including the establishment of health insurance marketplaces, the expansion of Medicaid, insurance mandates, …show more content…
Another achievement is the increased coverage for preventive services. The ACA mandates that insurance plans cover preventive services without cost sharing, thereby promoting early detection and preventive care. This has resulted in an increase in the utilization of preventive health services, leading to better health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs (McKenna, Carlson, & Green, 2018). Unintended Consequences and Challenges: Despite the achievements, the ACA also brought some unintended consequences and challenges. One of these is the rising cost of premiums and deductibles. Some individuals and families have experienced increased financial strain due to the high cost of insurance plans, even with the subsidies provided under the ACA. This has led to concerns about the affordability of healthcare for certain population segments (McKenna, Carlson, & Green, 2018). Another challenge is the issue of access to healthcare services in rural areas. The ACA's emphasis on expanding insurance coverage did not necessarily guarantee increased provider availability in these regions. Geographic disparities, along with socioeconomic factors, continue to contribute to limited access to healthcare for …show more content…
S., & Williams, D. R. (2012). Elucidating the role of place in health care disparities: The example of racial/ethnic residential segregation. Health Services Research, 47(3 pt2), 1278-1299.