Find and share a health policy related to your practice area (search the database for a scholarly article). How does this policy impact your practice?
The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is a health care reform law that was enacted in the United States in 2010. The ACA has had a significant impact on the health care system, including the nursing profession.
One of the most important provisions of the ACA is the individual mandate, which requires most Americans to have health insurance or pay a penalty. This provision has helped to increase the number of people with health insurance, which has benefited nurses by reducing the number of uninsured patients they see.
The ACA has also expanded access to Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income people. This expansion has also benefited nurses by providing them with more patients to care for.
In addition, the ACA has created new funding opportunities for nurses. For example, the law provides funding for nurse-managed health centers, which are clinics that are staffed by nurses and provide primary care services to underserved communities.
The ACA has also had an impact on the way nurses practice. For example, the law requires hospitals to have a patient-centered medical home (PCMH), which is a team-based approach to providing care. Nurses play a key role in PCMHs, and the ACA has helped to increase the number of PCMHs in the United States.
Overall, the ACA has had a positive impact on the nursing profession. The law has helped to increase access to health insurance, expand Medicaid, and create new funding opportunities for nurses. The ACA has also helped to change the way nurses practice, by increasing the emphasis on team-based care.
Here are some specific examples of how the ACA has impacted my practice as a nurse:
Overall, I believe that the ACA has been a positive force for nurses and for the health care system as a whole. The law has helped to improve access to health insurance, expand preventive care, and change the way nurses practice.