Assignment: Module 5 Week 10 Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template

Assignment: Module 5 Week 10 Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template

Assignment: Module 5 Week 10 Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template

NURS 6050 Module 5 Week 10 Assignment Sample Paper

Nurses play a critical role in healthcare as frontline care providers in different settings where they implement a host of federal, state, and even local healthcare programs. Evaluation of such programs is essential as it allows them to determine if they meet their goals and succeed in enhancing provision of care to patients and health populations (Milstead & Short, 2019). The Affordable Care Act of 2010 remains a landmark health program that has transformed different aspects of care provision. These include reducing the cost of care, increasing access, and focusing on quality through expanded coverage. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the ACA as a landmark legislation that has allowed many Americans from low-income households and those with pre-existing conditions to attain quality care.

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Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation	Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act 2010 (PPACA; Obamacare)
Description	The Affordable Care Act 2010 is a landmark health policy that has transformed healthcare in the United States by expanding access to health services through medical coverage for individuals that were initially uninsured. The main goals of the policy included expansion of access to care, reduction of the cost of health coverage, and improving quality. Since its enactment over 25 million Americans have gained coverage leading to saving of thousands, if not, millions of lives. The act also codified protection of individuals with pre-existing conditions and eliminated cost sharing as well as out-of-pocket payments for high-value preventive services (Chen et al., 2018). The policy expanded coverage for Medicare and Medicaid services to ensure that more vulnerable and low-income individuals can have health coverage. However, criticism against the policy almost led to its repeal and replacement by the Trump Administration. While the policy is credited for expanding health coverage, critics and opponents opine that it has led to a rise in the cost of medical care with insurers paying more for reimbursements.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?	The success of the ACA is based on the number of those who were insured after its implementation. Figures by different agencies and organizations show that over 25 million Americans gained health insurance coverage by enrolling on the program. The success of the program was also measured based on the attainment of its goals like improving access, improving quality of care, and reducing the overall cost of care coverage, especially among the low-income families and individuals (Chen et al., 2018). The policy also enhanced the training of healthcare professionals to offer better care by acquisition of knowledge.
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?	The ACA is a landmark policy that has reached over 25 million Americans, especially from low-income households who previously lacked healthcare coverage. Over 60 million American women have been impacted by the program because they can access contraceptives. Further, the expansion of Medicaid led to a reduction of deaths by over 19,000 among older individuals from low-income households (Ercia, 2021). The enactment of the policy has led to a reduction in the number of preventable deaths across the country.
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?	Evaluation of any program is essential as it determines overall success based on the targeted population. In this case, the evaluation of ACA began one after its implementation. stakeholders, especially implementing federal agencies like the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and state government s reviewed data of people getting health insurance coverage from the exchanges in states and Medicaid (Neiman et al., 2020). Imperatively, the evaluation of the program is a continuous process carried out each year to assess areas for amendments and improvements.
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?	Stakeholders like the federal agencies and state governments implementing the program used data from different institutions and organizations to carry out the evaluation of the policy. These entities like the CMS and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) offered data concerning the implementation of the program to ascertain if it met its goals.
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?	The implementation of any policy or program requires stakeholders to deal with unintended consequences that may have negative and even positive effects on the initiative. The unintended effects of the ACA include a rise in the cost of premiums for certain people, mandatory insurance coverage and mandatory payment by employers (Chen et al., 2018). However, some of these requirements were ruled as unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.	The stakeholders identified when evaluating the program include healthcare consumers, providers, state and federal governments, employers and insurance companies, especially health insurance organizations. The legislators and lobbyists as well as professional organizations like the American Nurses Association (ANA) are also critical stakeholders of the program (Ercia, 2021). Those to benefit from the outcomes of the evaluation include patients or healthcare consumers, and healthcare providers through increased accessibility, improved quality of care, and reduction in costs. Healthcare consumers will not have to pay out-of-pocket for services offered by healthcare organizations.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?	The ACA met its original intentions and objectives that included expansion of healthcare access, lowering the cost of care, and improving overall quality. More than 25 million enrolled on the program, especially those uninsured leading a drop of close to 15% (Neiman et al., 2020). The implication is that ACA has enabled many people to access healthcare, especially those with pre-existing conditions, women who require contraceptives, and low-income individuals and families that were initially uninsured.
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?	I would recommend the ACA program in my workplace because of the benefits that it has for healthcare consumers and even providers. Through the policy millions of Americans can access quality and affordable care allowing providers to serve them and ensure that they lead healthy lives. While the rise in the cost of premiums is an unintended consequence of the program, it is still a wonderful effort to attain universal health coverage in the country (Neiman et al., 2020). The program is essential for providers to develop effective and innovative approaches to care provision.
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation.	As a nurse advocate, I would be involved in the evaluation of the program or policy by focusing on the different benefits that it has for people from various areas, especially those vulnerable or from low-income settings. Further, I would participate in such efforts through training professionals and ensuring that there is sufficient information for more to enroll to attain the associated benefits of the policy. Again, I would also join professional organizations like ANA and actively articulate my position on the policy and ways to improve it.
General Notes/Comments	The Affordable Care Act is an essential part of the transformation of the U.S. healthcare system. It is essential for stakeholders to offer sufficient information on its benefits to allow many Americans who are still not covered. Millions of Americans experienced a substantial reduction or decline in the cost of healthcare because of this program (Ercia, 2021). This means that they have improved their health and overall socioeconomic situation.

Conclusion

The enactment of Obamacare in 2010 heralded a new chapter in healthcare reforms in the country. Through this program, over 25 million people have accessed healthcare service at reduced cost. The implication is that constant evaluation of the program will be critical in its overall effectiveness so that it can meet its set goals and objectives. The ACA implores providers to develop innovative delivery models to enhance accessibility and improve the quality of life.

References

Chen, J., Vargas-Bustamante, A., Mortensen, K., & Ortega, A. N. (2018). Racial and ethnic disparities in health care

access and utilization under the Affordable Care Act. Medical care, 54(2), 140. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4711386/

Ercia, A. (2021). The impact of the Affordable Care Act on patient coverage and access to care: perspectives from FQHC

administrators in Arizona, California and Texas. BMC health services research, 21(1), 1-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-06961-9

Milstead, J. A., & Short, N. M. (2019). Health policy and politics: A nurse’s guide (6th ed.). Burlington, MA: Jones & Bartlett

            Learning

Neiman, P. U., Tsai, T. C., Bergmark, R. W., Ibrahim, A., Nathan, H., & Scott, J. W. (2021). The Affordable Care Act at 10

Years: Evaluating the Evidence and Navigating an Uncertain Future. Journal of Surgical Research, 263, 102-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2020.12.056

Rapfogel, N., Gee, E. & Calsyn, M. (2020 March 23). 10 Ways the ACA Has Improved Health Care in the Past Decade.

            https://www.americanprogress.org/article/10-ways-aca-improved-health-care-past-decade/

Zhao, J., Mao, Z., Fedewa, S. A., Nogueira, L., Yabroff, K. R., Jemal, A., & Han, X. (2020). The Affordable Care Act and

access to care across the cancer control continuum: a review at 10 years. CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, 70(3), 165-181. doi: 10.3322/caac.21604.

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Assignment Details
Assignment: Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.
Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.
To Prepare:
Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis

Template. Be sure to address the following:
Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

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Rubric Detail

Select Grid View or List View to change the rubric’s layout.
Name: NURS_6050_Module05_Week10_Assignment_Rubric

Grid View
List View
Excellent Good Fair Poor
Program/Policy Evaluation

Based on the program or policy evaluation you seelcted, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

· Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

· How was the success of the program or policy measured?

· How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?

· At what point in time in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
32 (32%) – 35 (35%)
Using sufficient evidence, response clearly and accurately describes the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

Response accurately and clearly explains how the success of the program or policy was measured.

Response accurately and clearly describes how many people were reached by the program or policy and accurately describes the impact of the program or policy.

Response accurately and clearly indicates the point at which time the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
28 (28%) – 31 (31%)
Using sufficient evidence, response accurately describes the healthcare program or policy outcomes.

Response accurately explains how the success of the program or policy was measured.

Response accurately describes how many people were reached by the program or policy and accurately describes the impact of the program or policy.

Response accurately indicates the point at which time the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
25 (25%) – 27 (27%)
Description of the healthcare program or policy outcomes is inaccurate or incomplete.

Explanation of how the success of the program or policy was measured is inaccurate or incomplete.

Description of how many people were reached by the program or policy and the impact is vague or inaccurate.

Response vaguely describes the point at which the program or policy evaluation was conducted.
0 (0%) – 24 (24%)
Description of the healthcare program or policy outcomes is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Explanation of how the success of the program or policy was measured is inaccurate and incomplete or is missing.

Description of how many people were reached by the program or policy and the associated impacts is vague and inaccurate or is missing.

Response of the point at which time the program or policy was conducted is missing.
Reporting of Program/Policy Evaluations

· What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

· What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?

· What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit the most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.

· Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?

· Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?

· Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
45 (45%) – 50 (50%)
Response clearly and thoroughly explains in detail: -specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. -the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. -who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. -whether the program met the original intent and outcomes, including an accurate and detailed explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. -whether the program should be implemented, including an accurate and detailed explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. -at least two ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation of the program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
40 (40%) – 44 (44%)
Using sufficient evidence, response accurately identifies the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation. Response explains in detail specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. Response explains in detail the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. Response explains who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. Response includes an accurate explanation of whether the program met the original intent and outcomes, including an accurate explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. Response includes an accurate explanation of whether the program should be implemented, including an accurate explanation of the reasons supporting why or why not. Response includes an accurate explanation of two ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation of the program or policy after 1 year of implementation.
35 (35%) – 39 (39%)
Response vaguely or inaccurately identifies the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation. Explanation of specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation is vague or incomplete. Explanation of the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation is vague or inaccurate. Explanation of who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation is vague or inaccurate. Explanation of whether the program/policy met the original intent and outcomes, and the reasons why or why not is incomplete or inaccurate. Explanation of whether the program or policy should be implemented, and the reasons why or why not, is incomplete or inaccurate. Explanation of ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation or policy after 1 year of implementation is incomplete or inaccurate.
0 (0%) – 34 (34%)
Identification of the data used to conduct the program or policy evaluation is vague and inaccurate or is missing. Response includes vague and incomplete or is missing explanation of: -specific information on outcomes and unintended consequences identified through the program or policy evaluation. -the stakeholders involved in the program or policy evaluation. -who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation. -whether the program or policy met the original intent and outcomes, and the reasons why or why not. -whether the program or policy should be implemented, and the reasons why or why not. -ways that the nurse advocate could become involved in the evaluation or policy after 1 year of implementation.
Written Expression and Formatting – Paragraph Development and Organization:

Paragraphs make clear points that support well developed ideas, low logically, and demonstrate continuity of ideas.
Sentences are carefully focused– neither long and rambling nor short and lacking substance. A clear and comprehensive purpose statement and introduction is provided which delineates all required criteria.
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity.

A clear and comprehensive purpose statement, introduction, and conclusion is provided which delineates all required criteria.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 80% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is stated, yet is brief and not descriptive.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity 60%- 79% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is vague or off topic.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Paragraphs and sentences follow writing standards for flow, continuity, and clarity < 60% of the time.

Purpose, introduction, and conclusion of the assignment is incomplete or missing.
Written Expression and Formatting – English Writing Standards:

Correct grammar, mechanics, and proper punctuation
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Contains several (3-4) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Contains many (≥5) grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors that interfere with the reader’s understanding.
Written Expression and Formatting:

The paper follows correct APA format for title page, font, spacing, parenthetical/in-text citations, and reference list).
5 (5%) – 5 (5%)
Uses correct APA format with no errors.
4 (4%) – 4 (4%)
Contains a few (1-2) APA format errors.
3 (3%) – 3 (3%)
Contains several (3-4) APA format errors.
0 (0%) – 2 (2%)
Contains many (≥5) APA format errors.
Total Points: 100
Name: NURS_6050_Module05_Week10_Assignment_Rubric