Assignment Task:
Reply to the following discussion, APA style, 150 words, at least 1 reference. No AI, less than 20 % plagiarism.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid. Medicaid is a healthcare program that considers the social determinants of health (SDOH). It allows states to offer Medicaid coverage to individuals with an income below 138% of the federal poverty line. By 2025, we expect 40 states and the District of Columbia to implement this growth. It will provide millions of low-income individuals with access to essential healthcare services (Harker et al., 2024).
This initiative directly addresses critical Social Determinants of Health (SDOH) by making it easier for individuals without insurance to access medical care, particularly in areas where resources are limited. Individuals enrolled in Medicaid can receive preventive care promptly, which is crucial for reducing the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure that disproportionately impact low-income communities compared to other regions.
The growth also helps groups who are at risk stay financially stable. People with health insurance are less likely to put off seeking the medical care they need because they are anxious about how much it will cost or how much medical debt they will have to pay off. As a result, healthier individuals are better equipped to handle their everyday tasks and contribute to making their workplaces and communities safer and more productive. Studies have shown that extending Medicaid leads to fewer trips to the emergency room and more use of primary care services, which is good for public health in the long run (Giannouchos et al., 2022).
However, the policy still has issues that need to be addressed. Florida is still one of the 10 states that have not extended Medicaid as of 2024, leaving over 388,000 low-income adults without coverage. Many states still have not decided to expand Medicaid, which means that many low-income folks, especially those without children, cannot get the health care coverage they need. This circumstance highlights how political and financial issues continue to hinder the full deployment of the program (Harker et al., 2024).
As advocates for improvements in healthcare policy, advanced practice nurses (APNs) play a crucial role. They learn directly how factors such as income, education, and living conditions affect health outcomes by speaking with patients daily. Nurse practitioners can use information from research to support important initiatives like expanding Medicaid while also serving as teachers and leaders in their communities. They can raise awareness about health inequalities by partnering with local groups and participating in community outreach efforts. This way, they help ensure that everyone has equal access to healthcare services. Need Assignment Help?