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Policy Process- the Affordable Care Act

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Policy Process: The Affordable Care Act
Dinah Riveron
HCS/455
May 18, 2015
John Cutspec

Policy Process: The Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act signed by President Obama on March 23, 2010 as the means to enforce Health Insurance reform. Its main object is to make Health Insurance and Preventive care accessible and affordable to the American population.
The Affordable Care Act
The ACA major components include: Medicaid expansion, allowing states the opportunity to expand their existing Medicaid programs to include, (OPA, 1015) “individuals under 65 years of age with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level… (as well as) certain low-income adults without children” (Medicaid Expansion).
Health Insurance Marketplace (HIM), available for access to individuals and small businesses enabling them to compare a variety of plans on the basis of price, quality and benefits and to choose the most affordable option according to their needs. The proposed three models are State Operated, State and Government Operated, and Federal Government Operated, for States that choose not to establish a program.
Under the ACA, health services provided by all Insurance companies (participating or not on the HIM) are required to offer individuals and small businesses, affordable health Insurance plans that allow access to ten services identified as Essential Health Benefits (EHB).
EHB services include, Ambulatory and Emergency services, Hospitalization, Maternity and newborn care, Mental health, substance use disorder, and behavioral health treatment, Prescription drugs, Rehabilitative and “habilitative” services and devices, Laboratory services, Preventive and wellness services and chronic disease management.\, Pediatric services, including oral and vision care. These services must also meet the benchmarks set by State identifying typical

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