NURS 8100 With Posting Instructions in Mind, Select Either the Individual Mandate or Accountable Care Organizations as the Focus of your Discussion This Week

NURS 8100 With Posting Instructions in Mind, Select Either the Individual Mandate or Accountable Care Organizations as the Focus of your Discussion This Week
In this week’s discussion, I chose to discuss Accountable Care Organizations because their formation and goals align with those of my current organization. According to authors, Briggs, Fraze, Glick, Beidler, Shortell, and Fisher, the creation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) has led to an increase in motivation for delivering quality preventative care services ( Briggset. al., 2019). The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services states that ACOs are created when groups of healthcare providers and facilities work together in providing quality care services to the patients they service (Ulrich, 2012).
An unintended consequence of ACOs could be the formation of entities that will impact the cost of services they provide to increase, thereby reducing access for those who cannot afford the new rates. This might happen as a result of the different healthcare segments pulling together their resources thereby creating an environment that demands higher costs. These costs are in turn transferred to the fees the patients pay for the services.
In relation to my current organization, having an ACO would enable us to service more patients and provide an even more efficient service. ACOs would create access for underserved patients. It would be extremely beneficial to the morale of the healthcare staff to see that they can now service more of the less fortunate.
References
Briggs, A. D. M., Fraze, T. K., Glick, A. L., Beidler, L. B., Shortell, S. M., & Fisher, E. S. (2019). How Do Accountable Care Organizations Deliver Preventive Care Services? A Mixed-Methods Study. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 34(11), 2451–2459. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-019-05271-5
Teno, J. M., Mitchell, S., Belanger, E., Bunker, J., & Gozalo, P. L. (2021). Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) Could Potentially Improve the Quality of Care in Those Afflicted With Dementia. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 62(2), e1–e2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.04.003
Ulrich, B. (2012). Accountable Care Organizations: What They Are And Why You Should Care. Nephrology Nursing Journal, 39(6), 427.
Discussion: Unintended Consequences of Health Care Reform
NURS 8100 With Posting Instructions in Mind, Select Either the Individual Mandate or Accountable Care Organizations as the Focus of your Discussion This Week
The PPACA of 2010 fostered new provisions for health care and the structure of health care delivery. The individual mandate to obtain insurance is one provocative provision. While this provision attempts to increase access to health care, it raises questions on how the existing system could sustain the potentially large influx of newly insured individuals.
Another provision calls for new models of health care provider organizations to ensure delivery efficiency and continuity of care. In this week’s media presentation, Dr. Kathleen White discusses the accountable care organization, which comprises a group of providers coordinating care across a variety of institutional settings. Yet becoming an accountable care organization may present a number of challenges.
This week’s Discussion builds on Week 1, continuing the examination of those societal and organizational contexts that influence health care reform. The unintended consequences of reform policy on the health care system are also considered.
To prepare:
Review this week’s media presentation and the other Learning Resources focusing on how reform may lead to improved quality, greater access, and reduced cost of care. Also think about the unintended consequences that may arise as a result.
Consider the information presented about the individual mandate and accountable care organizations. What are some questions or concerns you might have regarding the individual mandate? What are the pros and cons associated with becoming an accountable care organization?
With posting instructions in mind, select either the individual mandate or accountable care organizations as the focus of your Discussion this week.
By Day 3
Post a cohesive response that addresses the following:
In the first line of your posting, identify the topic you have selected—either the individual mandate or accountable care organizations. With regard to this topic, describe one or more positive results that could be achieved, and one or more unintended consequence(s) that organizations or individuals may experience.
Briefly evaluate issues on the topic that may be a consideration for the organization you work in and the nursing profession.
Read a selection of your colleagues’ postings.
By Day 6
Respond to at least two of your colleagues in one or more of the following ways:
Ask a probing question, substantiated with additional background information, evidence or research.
Share an insight from having read your colleagues’ postings, synthesizing the information to provide new perspectives.
Offer and support an alternative perspective using readings from the classroom or from your own research in the Walden Library.
Validate an idea with your own experience and additional research.
Make a suggestion based on additional evidence drawn from readings or after synthesizing multiple postings.
Expand on your colleagues’ postings by providing additional insights or contrasting perspectives based on readings and evidence.
Note: Please see the Syllabus and Discussion Rubric for formal Discussion question posting and response evaluation criteria.
Return to this Discussion in a few days to read the responses to your initial posting. Note what you learned and/or any insights you gained as a result of the comments made by your colleagues.
Be sure to support your work with specific citations from this week’s Learning Resources and any additional sources.
Submission and Grading Information