Key Lessons from State and Local Health Care Reform Efforts
One of the main lessons that can be learned from health system reforms is that reducing the cost of health care is possible with good program design. The second lesson that deserves to be mentioned is the understanding that the state should be engaged in the possible miscalculation of risks for the population when creating an insurance program. In other words, many people suffered during the pandemic because people could not afford treatment (Barnhart et al., 2021). This situation calls into question the overall design of Medicaid.
Implications for Federal Health Care Policy
The first lesson tells the government that increasing the quality of health care and lowering the cost is possible. The Affordable Care Act’s successes may help politicians pay more attention to the development of this issue (Goode, 2015). The second lesson emphasizes the need for federal planning and assessment of potential health risks. More careful planning at the national level is necessary to establish a more stable and affordable health insurance system.
A Local Benchmark Reform: Expanding Access
The chosen for the analysis of healthcare reform is the expansion of Medicaid by Texas local governments. Cover Outstanding Vulnerable Expansion-Eligible Residents Now Act implies the increasing Medicaid limits, allowing many Texas citizens more access to healthcare services (Harper, 2021). This problem solves the problem of inaccessibility of health care imposed on citizens under the Medicaid insurance restrictions. Despite the comments of critics of the law that the population will be too dependent on the government, this poppy reform is an excellent example of increasing the availability of healthcare (Harper, 2021).
The most obvious advantage in terms of reducing the cost of health care was demonstrated by the situation with the pandemic. People for whom insurance was not available due to their level of wealth were seriously affected. As a result, the total cost of literally emergency care increased. Thus, this reform significantly increases the level of access to healthcare for a huge number of Texans.
References
Barnhart, D., Cubaka, V., Dusabeyezu, S,m Susengimana, V., Karema, N., Kateera, F., Mubiligi, J., Ndagijimana, D., Nshimyiryo, A., Shyirambere, C., & Umutesi, G. (2021). Barriers and coping mechanisms to accessing healthcare during the COVID-19 lockdown: a cross-sectional survey among patients with chronic diseases in rural Rwanda. BMC Public Health, 21(704). Web.
Goode, J. (2015). Better, smarter, healthier: Health care payment learning and action network kick off to advance value and quality in health care. Houston Style Magazine. Web.
Harper, K. (2021). Texas congressional Democrats propose bill to let local governments expand Medicaid without state consent. Texas Tribune. Web.