Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
 
Program/policy evaluation is a valuable tool that can help strengthen the quality of programs/policies and improve outcomes for the populations they serve. Program/policy evaluation answers basic questions about program/policy effectiveness. It involves collecting and analyzing information about program/policy activities, characteristics, and outcomes. This information can be used to ultimately improve program services or policy initiatives.

Nurses can play a very important role assessing program/policy evaluation for the same reasons that they can be so important to program/policy design. Nurses bring expertise and patient advocacy that can add significant insight and impact. In this Assignment, you will practice applying this expertise and insight by selecting an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation and reflecting on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program/policy.

To Prepare:

Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages) Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:

Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation? Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
 
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Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA 2010)
 

 
 
 
 
Description
This is a piece of healthcare policy that revolutionized access to quality healthcare as a social determinant of health for the poor and marginalized in the US. It introduced the concept of individual mandate whereby every person is expected as a matter of course to take the health cover. For those employed, the employer is obligated to pay for them. A total of another twenty million Americans of little or no means have since been brought into the healthcare coverage bracket because of ACA 2010 (HealthCare.gov, n.d; Manchikanti et al., 2017) Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

How was the success of the program or policy measured?
 
The success of the program was measure by the number of those previously uninsured who were able to be brought into the coverage fold. This figure has been estimated at 20 million Americans. The other measure of success was the fact that now individuals with pre-existing conditions would be able to receive coverage through monetary incentives given to the payers that cover them. To demonstrate how powerful this measure was, opponents such as former President Trump attempted to repeal and replace this provision because it allegedly hurt private business (Thompson, 2018; AAFP, n.d.).

How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
 
The number of persons reached by this policy was approximately 20 million persons. Most of these are from marginalized minority communities such as African Americans. They have limited means due to unfavorable social determinants of health such as low socioeconomic status. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The impact of the program was immense. For instance, persons with pre-existing conditions who normally have to regularly visit the hospital and take medications are now covered (Thompson, 2018; Manchikanti et al., 2017).

What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
 
The data used for evaluation came from the US Department of Human Services as well as Medicare.

What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
 
The specific information on unintended consequences was that relating to the individual mandate provision in the policy. It has now become clear that even though this was well-intended, many poor Americans with no employment still cannot pay even those reduced premiums and end up having to pay a penalty as stipulated by the law. This appears to be double punishment (Sweeney, 2018).

What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
The stakeholders identified in the evaluation of the policy include the federal government, Medicare and Medicaid, state governments, private payers, providers, and the American citizens. Those who stand to benefit most from the reporting or policy evaluation are payers including Medicare and Medicaid; as well as the federal government. Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example The latter uses this evaluation and reporting to assess the success or failure of the healthcare policy that is ACA 2010.

Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
 
The policy indeed met the original intent as it enabled another 20 million Americans to access healthcare. However, there is a downside to the success in that the individual mandate has proven to be a punishment rather than a helping move. Many poor citizens with no jobs are finding themselves required to pay penalties just for being unable to pay the ACA 2010 premiums.

Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
 
I would definitely recommend the implementation of this healthcare policy at my place of work. This is because despite the few drawbacks such as the provision on individual mandate, persons with pre-existing conditions are catered for in more ways than one.

Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after one year of implementation.
 
As a nurse advocate, I would become involved in evaluating the policy after one year of implementation by conducting a survey on patient satisfaction. Secondly, I would want to know the true extent of the negative impact of the individual mandate provision in the ACA 2010. For this, I will do a scientific research coming out with valid and reliable results to inform policy makers’ actions.  Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example
 

General Notes/Comments
The ACA 201 healthcare policy is the closest the United States has come to universal healthcare coverage (UHC). Despite the challenges that still exist; the impact of the policy especially on access to healthcare by the poor has been immense. In particular, covering pre-existing conditions has been a big plus for the poor Americans suffering from type II diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease amongst other chronic conditions Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example.

 
References
American Academy of Family Physicians [AAFP] (n.d.). ACA Repeal/ Replace. https://www.aafp.org/media-center/kits/aca-repeal-replace.html
HealthCare.gov (n.d.). Affordable Care Act (ACA). https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/affordable-care-act/
Manchikanti, L., Ii, S.H., Benyamin, R.M., & Hirsch, J.A. (2017). A critical analysis of Obamacare: Affordable care or insurance for many and coverage for few? Pain Physician, 20(3), 111-138. https://doi.org/10.36076/ppj.2017.138
Sweeney, E. (October 24, 2018). ACA repeal would impact 102M people with pre-existing conditions. https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payer/aca-repeal-would-impact-102-million-people-pre-existing-conditions
Thompson, D. (January 22, 2018). Obamacare helping poor families the most. https://consumer.healthday.com/public-health-information-30/affordable-care-act-obamacare-955/obamacare-helping-poor-families-the-most-730401.html  Program/ Policy Evaluation in Healthcare Example