A Look at Medical Practice and Research in the US - Essay Sample

Introduction

Before 2010, there was a high rate of the commercialism of medical practice and research in the U.S. During the time, true scientific and medical advancement was not sought after but rather fame and money. Even though the situation is similar in the contemporary medical field, there were significant changes during the Obama administration. According to Dr. David Himmelstein, the American health care system is costly and of great concern to low-income families. Lack of insurance and other issues related to payment of health affects millions of people in the states. His vision was to provide affordable health care services and health insurance for all, regardless of social status or immigration status. Dr. Himmelstein's presentation resonated with Moore's vision of healthcare ("Sicko (2007) 123Movies"). Moore's vision was a universal health care system that lacks commercialism; where doctors and insurance companies do business with the health of patients ("A Prescription for U.S. Healthcare | Technology and Society Forum"). Research shows that America has one of the highest cost of medical healthcare compared to other nations. Insurance companies tend to fire patients to get rid of high treatment costs. Because of the prevailing polices in the healthcare sector under the current administration, commercialism has continuously affected medical research.

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The 2010 affordable care act (ACA) coverage came with significant benefits to the American people. It succeeded in increasing insurance coverage, as many people were able to access healthcare services. After the amendment of ACA, the uninsured rate dropped from 16 percent in 2010 to 9.1 percent in 2015 (Koh, Howard and Kathleen 1296). This was the largest percentage of decline in medical insurance since the arrival of Medicare and Medicaid. These gains are attributed to the ACA coverage rather than the recovery of the U.S economy. The comprehensive health care reform, combined with financial aid for low-and-moderate-income people to access coverage, helped increase healthcare insurance among the population. There are states that have expanded their Medicaid programs to include pre-existing healthcare conditions and single adults. This is an indication that ACA, together with other reforms at the federal and national government, has improved health insurance coverage.

There is also increased access to treatment and financial security for the newly insured. After the expansion of Medicaid through 2015, there was an improved healthcare provision for the nonelderly in terms of ease of access to medical services, decrease in the percentage of those unable to access medicine and substantial reduction in the number of patients unable to afford care. Research also indicates that Medicaid expansion enhanced the financial security of newly insured patients as they spend less when visiting a healthcare facility. ACA has achieved significant achievement without negative effects on the labor markets as earlier predicted. Despite the 'job killer' widespread perception, private-sector employment has increased since ACA was implemented into law.

Despite the major achievement made, the American healthcare system still faces numerous challenges with some issues linked to flaws in the ACA. There was an ambitious reform agenda under ACA, but some of its approaches have turned out to be ineffective in addressing deeply rooted issues in the healthcare sector. Most of the current problems reflect the inherent complexities of the American system and cannot be influenced by politically feasible reforms (Hardcastle et al. 320). The most inherent issue revolves around the inadequacy of the ACA's sponsorships and the policies to address problems of low-income Americans who cannot meet insurance premiums.

According to the prior administration, the ACA would be improved by reducing complexities in tax credit programs, fixing the family glitch issue, and increasing credits for low-income families. There is a need for Congress to clarify the ambiguity of "family glitch." When there is sufficient legal interpretation of the Internal Revenue Code, the working families will understand the marketplace tax credits to access affordable healthcare coverage. The previous administration also expected an increase in the size and scope of the premium tax credit program to enhance access to affordable healthcare services for low-income families. This was expected to increased coverage for families receiving little aid under ACA coverage. Increasing the use of health saving accounts (HSAs) for low-income families could also make healthcare services more affordable.

Under the current administration, President Trump has continuously promised to repeal the ACA. After his election, he issued an executive order intended to revoke ACA implementation and has continually made remarks attacking the law. Some of the present administration's actions have openly damaged ACA initiatives. The termination of reimbursement paid to insurers for low-income families has threated to destroy the ACA markets (Saltzman, Evan and Christine 6). There are also plans to create an alternative insurance market other than ACA. The current short-term limited duration coverage that promotes the marketing of other plans endanger the achievement of affordable healthcare.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, ACA came with numerous benefits to the American people but the current administration has drastically derailed its implementation. The state's mandate of ensuring healthcare insurers provide sufficient network and access to their clients has been transferred to the national government. There are plans to amend the law and allow states to change health benefit requirements and control insurer medical-loss. At the same time, the current administration has allowed the transfer of medical enrolment from the federal market to private brokers through the enhanced direct enrollment initiative.

Works Cited

"A Prescription for U.S. Healthcare | Technology and Society Forum". Tsf.Njit.Edu, 2019, http://tsf.njit.edu/2007/fall/himmelstein.php.

"Sicko (2007) 123Movies". 123Movies.Gdn, 2019, https://www.123movies.gdn/sicko-watch-free/.

Hardcastle, Lorian E., et al. "Improving the population's health: the Affordable Care Act and the importance of integration." The Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics 39.3 (2011): 317-327. https://scholarship.law.georgetown.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1032&context=ois_papers

Koh, Howard K., and Kathleen G. Sebelius. "Promoting prevention through the affordable care act." New England Journal of Medicine 363.14 (2010): 1296-1299. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMp1008560

Saltzman, Evan, and Christine Eibner. "Donald Trump's health care reform proposals: Anticipated effects on insurance coverage, out-of-pocket costs, and the federal deficit." The Commonwealth Fund 32 (2016): 1-14. http://www.longtermcarescorecard.org/~/media/files/publications/issue-brief/2016/sep/1903_saltzman_trump_hlt_care_reform_proposals_ib_v2.pdf