HCA515 Analysis of Contemporary Health Care Delivery Models

Week 5 Assignment  – Access to Care

The purpose of this assignment is to evaluate access to care and how health care reform improves access to care for all populations.

Write a 1,250-1,500 word paper answering the following questions:

What is access to care?

How does service availability affect access to care?

How do affordability, physical accessibility (delivery), and acceptability (quality) of services affect access to care?

What are some barriers to access to care?

How is equity of access measured?

What are two health care reform measures that have been implemented in the last 10 years to increase access to care? Describe each health care reform measure.

Were these health care reform measures successful in increasing access to care? Why or why not?

Support your writing with three to five scholarly peer-reviewed resources.

Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.

This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.

You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.

 

MORE INFO 

Access to Care

Introduction

Access to care is an important topic in the United States. The opioid crisis has led to a significant increase in the number of people who have no access to treatment or care, but access to care has been an enduring problem since the early 20th century. Medicaid and ACA plans have helped provide coverage for millions of Americans, but many young adults 18 through 26 are still without coverage after age-out from their parent’s plans.

Access to Care

Access to Care

Though it’s not the only issue driving the opioid crisis, access to care is a central part of this issue. Many people who misuse opioids get them from a friend or relative—and many of those friends and relatives are parents who were prescribed opioids by their doctors after surgery or chronic pain management. In fact, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one in three young adults age 18 through 26 reported using prescription painkillers nonmedically in 2016. This number has increased since 2013; however, it’s still significantly lower than that of older generations at similar ages—particularly those aged between 20 and 29 years old (the so-called Millennials).

Accessing health insurance through Medicaid or private insurance after experiencing a major health event can be difficult because many Americans depend on employer-sponsored plans for their coverage options. The ACA offers subsidies for purchasing insurance through exchanges established by states but these subsidies aren’t always enough for most Americans who don’t qualify based on income levels alone: almost half have incomes below 400 percent above poverty line ($47k/year) according to Census data released earlier this year .

Lack of access to care and treatment has been an enduring problem in the United States since the early 20th century.

Lack of access to care and treatment has been an enduring problem in the United States since the early 20th century. The lack of access to health care has led to many deaths, including those due to cancer and heart disease. In addition, rural areas lack enough providers for their residents (and often wait times are long). This issue is especially important because it can affect people with low incomes or who live far away from large cities where there are more doctors available than usual.

Access to care is a central part of what is known as the opioid crisis

Access to care is a central part of what is known as the opioid crisis. It’s not just about having access to pain medications, either. When you’re living with chronic pain and can’t get help from your doctor, you may experience more stress in your life—and this can lead to other problems like anxiety or depression.

Access to care isn’t just an issue for people who live in rural areas and have low incomes; it affects all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds equally. While many adults may think they know how they want their lives taken care of when they become sick or injured (family members helping out; friends offering advice), many others don’t feel comfortable asking for help because there isn’t anyone close enough by who could provide real support at this point in time.”

Access to care is a significant concern among young adults 18 through 26, particularly when they age out of their parents’ coverage.

If you’re a young adult, it’s important to understand that access to care is a significant concern among those 18 through 26. In fact, 80% of this age group reports having difficulty accessing needed medical care in the past year. And although young adults are more likely than older adults to be uninsured (32% vs 20%) and less likely to have a regular source of health insurance coverage (60% vs 68%), they are still more likely than older adults who do not have health insurance coverage.*

And when it comes to paying for medical services or medications? The story continues: Young adults are less likely than older Americans overall—but especially those without insurance—to pay their own way when faced with an unexpected expense such as an illness or accident that requires hospitalization.*

Many people enroll in Medicaid or ACA plans after experiencing a major health event

Many people enroll in Medicaid or ACA plans after experiencing a major health event. After all, the government pays for your care.

But there are serious consequences when someone enrolls in government-paid insurance after a major health event:

• People who enroll in Medicaid after a major health event tend to be in poorer health than those who don’t.

• They’re likely to have chronic conditions like diabetes or heart disease that make them more likely to need ongoing medical attention and expensive treatments—and that’s before you consider any other factors like age (older people are more likely to qualify for coverage).

Access to healthcare continues to be a major issue in the US.

Access to healthcare continues to be a major issue in the US. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in three Americans lack health insurance coverage. And while Medicaid is available for low-income individuals and families, it does not cover everyone who needs it; many people still rely on private insurance or pay higher costs out of pocket.

Accessibility also varies dramatically depending on where you live: some states have expanded Medicaid programs under Obamacare, but others have refused to participate or taken actions that have weakened their effectiveness over time. Additionally, there are significant differences between rural communities compared with urban ones (and vice versa).

Conclusion

These are all issues that we can help solve, and we need your help to do it.