Introduction
The United States has introduced and implemented different health policies within the past three decades to transform the quality of medical services available to the American population. Healthcare leaders (HLs) should be aware of emerging guidelines and identify the ones to introduce in their respective facilities. They should also consider new clinical concepts that can make it possible for more citizens to record positive health outcomes. This paper describes various policies that will ensure that more patients receive equitable and fair care and how to address the current Medicaid changes. The final part discusses the negative and positive impacts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that HLs should consider.
Policies to Develop
As the chief executive officer (CEO) of a medium-sized hospital, I will consider and develop specific policies that have the potential to support the delivery of equitable patient care. The first one is employing enough nurses, clinicians, and caregivers in accordance with the number of people in need of sustainable services. Such a policy will maximize the level of equity and reduce burnout (Chait & Glied, 2018). The second one revolves around the provision of personalized medical services. This model means that the needs of all patients will be supported using customized care delivery procedures.
The third policy focuses on the role of effective leadership and empowerment initiatives. This strategy will ensure that all workers are guided, equipped with the right resources, and encouraged to address new challenges. The fourth policy is to take the issue of continuous improvement through quality and development (Q&D). This practice will ensure that existing barriers are tackled while at the same time introducing superior strategies for reducing disparities in the consumption of the available health services (Cunningham, Garfield, & Rudowitz, 2015). Finally, the attributes associated the ACA policy will become powerful tools for ensuring that more people receive high-quality and sustainable care in my facility.
Change in Volume of Medicaid Patients
The change in volume of Medicaid patients means that more people are currently having insurance for various medical conditions. This expansion has been accepted or adopted in my state. Such a move has made it possible for many individuals to get healthcare cover. Many beneficiaries from minority groups are recording positive health results. This means that the quality of mental health, primary care, and preventive medical support has increased significantly. With these developments, my organization will have to consider the most appropriate transformations that are informed by this volume change (Chait & Glied, 2018). For instance, the facility will empower and hire more professionals to provide adequate and timely care. The leaders will establish positive relationships with various stakeholders within the Medicaid program to ensure that more people have access to quality services. Additionally, the institution will acquire adequate resources and create superior care delivery models. I will go further to guide the organization’s board to maximize the available services and attract more professionals to offer high-quality services to all Medicaid beneficiaries.
Positive and Negative Impacts: ACA
As a HL, it will be necessary to consider various impacts associated with the adoption and implementation of the ACA. The positive impacts of this policy revolve around the experiences of patients. Professionals in different departments should begin by presenting superior solutions to barriers that might affect care delivery. The first positive outcome is that the ACA has increased coverage for persons with pre-existing conditions. The institution will have to employ more workers and acquire additional resources to maximize care delivery. The second one is that medical facilities are empowered to provide more screenings for patients with diverse needs. The hospital will have to acquire new machines and equipment to support this impact (Kominski, Nonzee, & Andrea, 2017). The final positive impact is that drugs are available at reduced costs. This means that the facility will have to streamline its operations to ensure that adequate drugs are available to different patients.
On the other hand, there are specific negative consequences that might arise from the ACA policy. The first one is that many hospitals are forced to provide services to more patients at reduced costs, thereby affecting financial performance. This means that the institution should present superior countermeasures to remain viable and profitable. The second challenge is that more facilities have to provide services without an adequate number of medical professionals. The most appropriate initiative is for my hospital to have a proper strategy for attracting new medical professionals (Chait & Glied, 2018). The third one is that health policy in the United States is ever changing. This means that every model is informed by the aims and expectations of the government of the day (Kominski et al., 2017). The hospital should, therefore, have proper contingency plans to address various problems that might arise.
Conclusion
The above discussion has indicated that HLs should be ready to implement powerful procedures and policies that have the potential to maximize the quality of care available to different patients. The changes in Medicaid coverage should inform the best strategies for improving performance. A detailed analysis of the challenges and opportunities associated with the ACA policy will guide CEOs of medical facilities to introduce evidence-based changes and strategies to remain sustainable.
References
Chait, N., & Glied, S. (2018). Promoting prevention under the Affordable Care Act. Annual Review of Public Health, 39, 507-524. Web.
Cunningham, P., Garfield, R., & Rudowitz, R. (2015). How are hospitals faring under the Affordable Care Act? Early experiences from ascension health. Health Reform. Web.
Kominski, G. F., Nonzee, N. J., & Andrea, S. (2017). The Affordable Care Act’s impacts on access to insurance and health care for low-income populations. Annual Review of Public Health, 38, 489-505. Web.