In what ways have recent health care reform measures expanded or inhibited access to care?
After more than a year of debate and countless meetings, votes, and speeches, Congress passed sweeping health reform legislation last month, and President Barack Obama signed it into law. By an overwhelming majority (89%), leaders in health care and health policy think the new reform law will successfully expand access to affordable health insurance to the millions of Americans who currently go without it. The latest Commonwealth Fund/Modern Healthcare Health Care Opinion Leaders survey—which was fielded while the legislation was still pending in Congress—also found that virtually all key features of the health reform law are supported by a large majority of opinion leaders. The Patient Care and Affordable Care Act created and signed into law to ensure that all Americans have access to health care at affordable costs and to help control the rising cost of health care. Opposed from the beginning, this reform measure creates opportunities for individuals to access insurance with pre-existing conditions, preventative service, and immunizations, dependent coverage up to age 26, and to develop information for consumers to make informed comparisons when shopping for health insurance. This Act will be implemented in 2014 and the impact of the costs that will have to be covered by employers is a huge concern. Employers are finding ways to get around paying for employees health care costs by reducing hours and keeping staff numbers under 50 to avoid tax increases under The Patient Care and Affordable Care Act. Aimed at providing for the non-insured and under insured citizens of America while providing a comprehensive guideline to choosing a health insurance plan to best fit the consumer’s needs, the costs to business and the jobs that...
How might changes to access influence