Managed Care Essay

The U.S. healthcare system has undergone significant changes since its inception. In the early 20th century, healthcare was mostly delivered through private physicians and hospitals, and few Americans had health insurance. The Great Depression brought about new challenges, leading to the creation of public health programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. These programs provided healthcare to vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those living in poverty. George Mossley ( a Harvard grad in public health) mentions that in the 1980s and 1990s, healthcare costs began to rise, leading to the development of managed care plans. These plans aimed to control costs by limiting access to certain providers and services (Moseley, 2008). However,

I believe that it has had a positive impact on the healthcare industry and on the lives of millions of Americans. There are several great examples as to how the ACA has benefited the American people.According to ncbi the ACA has expanded access to healthcare by providing insurance coverage to millions of previously uninsured individuals. According to a study by the Commonwealth Fund, the uninsured rate for working-age adults fell from 20% in 2010 to 12% in 2016, thanks in large part to the ACA (Borelli et al., 2016). According to the HHS(department of health and human resources) the ACA prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage or charging higher premiums based on pre-existing conditions. This provision has helped millions of Americans with chronic health conditions access affordable healthcare (HHS, 2014). As mentioned by ncbi the ACA has implemented a number of reforms aimed at improving the quality of care, such as incentivizing hospitals to reduce readmissions and implementing value-based payment models. These efforts have led to better outcomes for patients and reduced costs for the healthcare system (McIlvennan et al., 2015). Ncbi brings up that while the ACA has faced criticism for its cost, it has also implemented several measures aimed at containing healthcare costs. These include the creation of accountable care organizations and the implementation of preventative care services, which can reduce the need for expensive emergency care (Rice et al., 2014). Despite these challenges, I believe that the ACA has been a positive step forward in expanding access to healthcare and improving the quality of care for millions of Americans. As a healthcare professional, I support the continued implementation and improvement of the ACA in order to ensure that all Americans have access to affordable, high-quality