The most important elements of the Affordable Care Act in regards to community and public health include: title I, title II, and title IV. Title I is quality, affordable health care for all Americans. I think the biggest part of this is that assistance is provided even for those with pre-existing conditions and that the act requires coverage of preventative services and immunizations.
The next important element in the act is title II, the role of public programs. The most important part of this act is that it improves community-based care for disabled
Americans. It also extends Medicaid and treats all States equally.
Title IV promotes prevention of chronic disease and improves public health. Co-payments are waived for seniors, added preventative services, and works to improve health and reduce illness and disability. Through this being done, it helps keep health care costs down.
The nurses role in implementation involves knowledge and participation. The nurse should have a broad knowledge of how this new law works. It is especially important to the community nurse working in the health department of their county. To help provide health insurance to the community, the nurse will need to know what options will best benefit the patient. Change happens all the time. No matter if the nurse agrees with the new law or doesn't, he/she needs to be able to support the patient.