Health Care Reform

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Health Care Reform
After much public and political debate, in March 2010, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was signed into law by President Barack Obama. The PPACA is one of many health care reform efforts that have sought to correct key features of the U.S. health care system such as financing, service delivery, and care coordination. This week, you will examine the passage of PPACA as a milestone along the historical continuum of health care reform in the United States.

To prepare:

Review      this week’s Learning Resources and media presentation, reflecting on the      evolution of health care in the United States and the public’s response to      health care reform efforts historically and currently.
Consider:      What principal features of the U.S. health care system helped or hindered      the enactment of federal health reform in March 2010? What challenges were      encountered?
How      do these conditions and/or challenges reflect characteristics of the      policy process and the political environment?

By tomorrow Wednesday 02/28/18 4pm, write a minimum of 550 words in APA format with a minimum of THREE scholarly references from the list of required readings below. Include the level one headers as numbered below:
Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:

1) Analyze at least one important feature of the U.S. health care system that is of particular interest to you. Explain why you think this feature is significant in terms of health policy and reform.

2) Describe one or more conditions or challenges specifically related to the passing of the PPACA. Explain how this exemplifies the nature of the policy-making process and

3)  Evaluate how it could relate to the question of why health reform in the United States has been so difficult.

Required Readings

Bodenheimer, T., & Grumbach, K. (2016). Understanding health policy: A clinical approach (7th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Medical.
Chapter 1, “Introduction: The Paradox of Excess and Deprivation” 
This chapter introduces the concept of “excess and deprivation”—people receiving either too little or too much health care, which contributes to the weakness of the health care system.
Chapter 2, “Paying for Health Care” 
This chapter discusses the evolution of health care financing, including out-of–pocket payments, individual private insurance, employment-based insurance, and government-financed insurance.
Chapter 3, “Access to Health Care” 
This chapter focuses on financial and nonfinancial barriers to health care and concludes with influences to one’s health status unrelated to health care.
Chapter 4, “Paying Health Care Providers” 
This chapter provides information on how physicians and hospitals are paid.

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Understanding the Affordable Care Act. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/index.html 
Posted by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this article provides an introduction to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA).

HealthCare.gov. (n.d.). Understanding the Affordable Care Act: About the law. Retrieved from http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/rights/law/index.html 
Also posted by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, this article focuses on specific provisions of the law and outlines how it will increase access to affordable health coverage.

In Week 1 of this course, you are required to subscribe to one of the health information services listed below. In preparation, review these different sites:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (2010). AHRQ PSNet Patient Safety Network. Retrieved from http://psnet.ahrq.gov/

ModernHealthcare.com. (n.d.). Registration is free: The news is invaluable. Retrieved from https://home.modernhealthcare.com/clickshare/addAccountFree.do 

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2011). Publications and research. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org/?topicid=1318 

The Commonwealth Fund. (2010). The Commonwealth Fund. Retrieved from http://www.commonwealthfund.org/ 

The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. (2011). New & noteworthy. Retrieved from http://www.kff.org/ 

Required Media

Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2011). Healthcare policy and advocacy: The policy process. Baltimore: Author. 

Note: The approximate length of this media piece is 11 minutes.
In this media presentation, Dr. Kominski and Dr. Zelman discuss the policy process and provide an overview of the influence of policy on health care practices. Dr. Zelman also discusses the challenges of passing new policy and relates this to health care reform efforts.Bottom of Form

Do customers really drive location and how does this affect logistical planning? Choose a specific industry (e.g., beer, clothing, automobiles, etc.). Compare the location decision of a Manufacturing company, to a Distributor, to a Retail location.

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Please read the article below which concerns locating near customers, and also review the Background Readings.

Crammer, L. J. & Wegfahrt, A. M., (2006). Ranked #9 proximity to major markets. Area Development Site and Facility Planning, 41(5).

Abstract:

Although a company’s location criteria and business model change  over time, it is really the customers who establish broad location  strategy. Furthermore, the business model established by most companies  will be based on customer preferences—which also change over  time. For example, the old-school model used for manufacturing included  the need to inventory raw materials and sub-assemblies at the  manufacturing site.

Then, in a 5- to 6-page paper answer the following question.

Do customers really drive location and how does this affect  logistical planning? Choose a specific industry (e.g., beer, clothing,  automobiles, etc.). Compare the location decision of a Manufacturing  company, to a Distributor, to a Retail location. How much influence does  the customer of each of these types of businesses have on the location  decision? How does this effect the logistics of each?

The paper should be 5–6 pages in length and have a cover sheet  and a reference page. Clarity of presentation is important, as well as  your ability to cover the topic in a succinct, organized manner with  research to back up your points. Use at least 3 different sources of  information and annotate your sources of information appropriately on  your references page and within the text as necessary 

KNOW PUBLIC HEATH EPIDEMIOLOGY

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KNOW PUBLIC HEATH EPIDEMIOLOGY
DUE 3/1  8P.M EST 500 WORDS  Read Instructions

ARTICLE:  Aberg, A. et al. (2010). Exposure assessment at a PCDD/F contaminated site in Sweden–field measurements of exposure media and blood serum analysis.Environmental Science and Pollution Research International. 17(1):26-39. (IS ATTACHED) Answer questions below    
Discussion of journal articles is important to the development of critical thinking and evaluation skills. You are provided with citations for two different articles to discuss with your colleagues, in a “journal club” style. A journal club typically refers to a group of individuals who meet to critically evaluate journal articles in their academic field. You will participate in a journal club style critique in this module’s Discussion. This type of evaluation is very useful to broaden your knowledge of the field and practice critical thinking skills. Your discussion must be relevant to the journal article and must provide a scholarly critique of the contents. 

Answer these questions from Article
What do you think the public health significance of the research question in this study was? Is it mostly of local significance or is there a global impact? Explain. Does the study fill an important gap, in your opinion? Why or why not? Critique the methodology. Why do you think the authors chose this methodology and what would you have done differently? Explain. Interpret the results in your own words and then discuss with your colleagues whether you agree or disagree with the author’s interpretations and why.

Identify three responsible federal, state or local agencies you would work with to achieve these four elements as a way to reduce health disparities in this cultural group.

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 There is significant evidence that indicates being a minority or of a diverse cultural or ethnic background results in health disparities and challenges to safety and quality of care. Select one cultural group in which you would like to increase their safety and health outcomes.
In a 1-2 page Word document:

Describe why you chose this cultural group. Include what makes this group the same as or different than you.
Provide a brief overview of the four elements (from Healthy People 2020) to reduce health disparities for this population, which include:

Goals
Objectives
Determinants of Health
Health Status

Identify three responsible federal, state or local agencies you would work with to achieve these four elements as a way to reduce health disparities in this cultural group.
APA format with references