NURS 8100 WEEK 7 Healthcare Reform Interview

Reforms remain a critical part of the U.S. health care system with changes occurring at different levels of government, from state to federal system, to ensure that all Americans have access to health care. Healthcare reforms have influenced the healthcare delivery process in the U.S positively; though, some undesired negative consequences have also emerged. I conducted an interview to discuss the healthcare reforms with my state senator. The identified health issue is the use of innovative care models like the accountable care organizations (ACOs). The purpose of this paper is to provide highlights from the interview and an analysis of the same. The interview had two parts based on the questions and its analysis. 

Part 1 

  1. How would you rate the current healthcare system in terms of quality care delivery? 
  1. Do you think the introduction of ACOs has influenced the quality of care delivered to the patients in any way? 
  1. What are some of the challenges encountered in the implementation of affordable care programs? 
  1. Do you think the Medicare and Medicaid programs have achieved their intended purposes of reducing the cost of treatment? 
  1. What are the ethical considerations and implications of punishing healthcare institutions with more readmissions within 30 days than the recommended numbers? 

The questions aimed at understanding the current healthcare reforms with the main focus being on the Medicare and Medicaid programs. There are many reforms witnessed in the healthcare sector; though, the Medicare and Medicaid programs are easily noticeable. Besides, the questions would help in determining whether the programs have achieved their intended purposes and the existing gaps that need to be addressed. The question of whether Medicare and Medicaid programs have achieved the intended goals is complex and can be analyzed from different perspectives. In one way, it may be true that the government has done its mandate to offer affordable healthcare programs, especially to vulnerable populations and so it is the mandate of the healthcare providers to offers high-quality services. On the other hand, it may be seen that the government has not implemented the program effectively and has resulted in increased pressure for the healthcare providers. Finally, the questions also analyze the ethics governing the healthcare reforms.  

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Part 2 

Analysis of the Interview 

Exploring the healthcare reforms provided an opportunity for understanding the dynamics in the healthcare delivery processes. The cost of care delivery remains a major challenge for the majority of the population, especially with the rising cost of living. Various measures and policies have been developed to promote universal health coverage and ensure that all people receive quality healthcare services in time. Inequalities in access to healthcare services are associated with the rising cases of cardiovascular diseases and the associated mortalities. The interview session was effective as the selected national leader was open to discussing the critical issues in the current system and the new approaches to adopt in making access to healthcare services better.  

One of the key factors covered in the interview was the implication of the Medicare and Medicaid programs on the cost of medication. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services continues to have a strong influence on the healthcare delivery processes through financial incentives and reimbursements. One of the incentives would involve rewarding those that offer quality care and punishing the poor performers based on the specific quality indicators such as readmission within 30 days of discharge. On the other hand, such policies tend to limit the ability of healthcare providers to offer comprehensive care to patients. Besides, there are cases where the cost of care has increased instead of reduced. The concern in covering the topic during the interview was to understand the critical factors contributing to the high cost of medication and how they could be addressed despite having the Medicare and Medicaid programs.  

The interviewer acknowledged that there were cases when the expenses in the Medicaid and Medicare programs would rise. The rise would be witnessed during the economic downturn because many people enroll in the program after losing jobs. The state has to struggle to keep up with the


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