Preparing for the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act’s Scheduled Changes, 2010-2020

Melissa Crossman
Melissa Crossman lives in Indianapolis with her two dogs. She enjoys cooking and volunteering in her community.
Melissa Crossman
Melissa Crossman
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The Basics of The Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act

President Barack Obama signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 23, 2010. This bill represented nothing less than the most significant change in our medical care system since Medicare went into effect in the 1930s and Medicaid became a program in the 1960s. The law was challenged by opponents, but was ultimately upheld as constitutional by the United State Supreme Court on June 28, 2012, in the case of National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was designed to initiate an overhaul of the health insurance and health provider system for all Americans, staggered over a 10-year period from 2010 to 2020.

The entire law can be accessed on the HealthCare.gov website or the features of each year’s planned changes can be accessed and understood on a timeline noting when each law will go into effect. Essentially, the Affordable Care Act will provide or require the medical insurance of millions of Americans. Preventative care will be emphasized even as the demographics of our aging Baby Boomer population will also swell the numbers of patients requiring care.

The Current Nursing Shortage

Even without the required interventions of the Affordable Care Act, medical economists have been warning for years that the number of U.S. nurses would be inadequate to meet the needs of the growing Boomer population. Proposed “fixes” such as encouraging more nursing students through student loan deferments, allowing vocational training in high school for LPNs, higher salaries for working nurses and even immigration allowances for Filipino nurses were never enough. The number of nursing students our system can graduate is limited not by insufficient student interest, but by the lack of spaces available in nursing schools due to insufficient faculty numbers. Until we have the number of nursing professors to teach would-be nurses, our number of new nurses each years will remain static and below anticipated needs.

Alternatives to Nursing to Fill the Anticipated Demand for More Healthcare Workers

In an effort to meet the needs for trained health care workers, the government has been reconsidering faster educational tracts to a nursing degree and license. Examples of these interventions include providing high school and vocational tech educational options for students to become licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or considering military medic training as on par with this basic nursing program than can lead to a registered nurse (RN) degree with more education.

Other alternatives designed to increase the number of available caregivers involve new programs and positions to take over aspects of nursing that don’t require a nursing license. Graduates of medical assistant programs are now moving into open positions in outpatient facilities, the fastest-growing segment of the health care provider marketplace. Medical assistants have the advantage of training in both medical and clerical aspects of their positions and have associate degrees that can be the foundation upon which additional education or careers can be established.

Despite the deep divide in America regarding the ultimate success of the Affordable Care Act, all parties agree on one issue: we are in the midst of a health care provider shortage and every additional worker is a plus as the ACA changes take place.

  

Comments

  1. I’m an graduated student from medical university. I think this is a great opportunity for us to get in the system. I’m really happy to hear about this.


  2. Twitter:
    Great info for anyone interested in Health Care and Patient Privacy Laws…
    Justin Musiker recently posted..The Truth About PageRankMy Profile


  3. Twitter:
    I think kids in school should be able to get the education they need so as soon as they graduate they can go right into their career.

    College education is not necessary for most jobs these days so why not let the kids get their needed education in high school?
    Justin recently posted..Brain Evolution System ReviewMy Profile

  4. As someone who works in the healthcare field, over crowded hospitals is a worry, however my main concern is the “overreaction visitors” who visit the hospital every few days over minor symptoms and minor scrapes.

  5. Great information here. I’m a Pharmacist and It’s crucial to take care of your health and make sure you are getting proper vitamins, minerals, and fibers each and everyday!


  6. Twitter:
    i hope such system should also be adopted in india thanks for the information.hope my country leaders will read it and understand.
    Rohan Mod recently posted..Get Backlinks If Someone Copying Website ContentMy Profile


  7. Twitter:
    Also, take into account our younger population, sadly, many young children are obese, and a good chance they will grow into obese adults – which will have major impact on healthcare in the future.

  8. Patient Privacy Laws are the most important things, which must be kept in mind.

  9. yes agree with Len, its younger population that worries you more as most of kids these days are overweight though there is a trend of working out among kids and i have seen buffed kids but this cannot be compared to our mcdonalds army
    wazz recently posted..Yeah !!! You can workout at home !!!My Profile


  10. Twitter:
    One of the primary reasons for the nursing shortage is the limited amount of nursing faculty. Nursing educators are underpaid and there simply aren’t enough to meet the need.

    The nursing school I went to always had over 400 applicants and was only able to accept 100.

    Nursing educators need better incentives and higher pay.

    Another issue is that 1/4 nurses leave the profession within the first year. A large part of this is due to bullying. Nurses need to stop eating their young!
    Brittney Wilson recently posted..Nurse of the Year [Video] [Parody]My Profile

  11. Chrystal says:

    The health care acts in not only beneficial to the patients but also it opened opportunity to the people in medical field to acquire positions in the system. ACA must take extra attention in selecting the best personnel to give the care the citizens deserve. Professionalism and experience should be one of the factors.

  12. Hey Melissa,
    Nice post and Thanks for sharing this post with us. This post is full of information and really seems very helpful for those who have interested in health care.
    Sudipto recently posted..Best Android Phone Under 10000My Profile

  13. The changing laws are meant to serve a common good to all citizens.

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