The Second Criterion Is Quality - 1250 Words

The second criterion is quality. How has the ACA affected the ability of patients to obtain quality care? According to the White House, quality of care has improved in a couple of important ways (Somanader, 2015). First, they argue patients are healthier when they leave a hospital stay, describing how from 2010 to 2013, 50,000 fewer people have died as the result of hospital errors and infections. They also explain that new care models allow patients to access their doctor when they need to. However, the White House also acknowledges that more work needs to be done (Somander, 2015). One significant way the ability to obtain quality care has been impacted is through the removal of pre-existing condition exclusions. Patients with coverage†¦show more content†¦One that requires the cooperation of government, insurance companies, hospitals, and individual doctors. Finally, the impact of the ACA on the cost of the health care system will be evaluated. Overall, health care spending in the U.S. has continued to grow but at a much slower rate. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported that health care spending grew at the lowest rate ever recorded (Hartman, Martin, Lassman, Catlin, 2014). This was in part due to the ACA. Other factors included slow economic growth and increases in private health insurance spending. Additionally, a greater number of high-deductible insurance plans and an increase in the share of health costs for which the patient is responsible have also increased. It is also possible that people not accessing health care is a factor, in addition to cost controls (Fernandez as cited in Ungar O’Donnell, 2014). There is also the possibility that spending will grow faster as the economy continues to improve (Ungar O’Donnell, 2014). The growth of health spending has slowed, however the impact of the ACA o n this is unclear. According the the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the law is at least in part responsible for this. However, faster growth may return as the economy grows. The evidence is clearest that the ACA has improved access as far as it has increased the number of Americans with health insurance. As far as the other