In 2010, shortly before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed into law, the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and

In 2010, shortly before the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) passed into law, the Journal of Health Politics, Policy, and Law published an article attempting to predict whether the measure would pass. The article analyzed the health care reform efforts of then-President Bill Clinton in 1992. You might even argue that the landscape for health care reform was more favorable at that time, compared to 2010:

In November 1992 health care reform appeared to be a foregone conclusion. The country had elected a new, charismatic Democratic president and a Democratic Congress. Both the incoming president and members of Congress vowed to make health care reform a priority. Health insurance premiums were rising, and the economy was in recession. Yet, despite these favorable conditions, no major health care legislation passed the Congress. (Brady & Kessler, 2010)

Based on their analysis of prevailing public opinion and the propensity of a modern Congress to gridlock as the previous Congress had, the analysts concluded that health reform would, once again, fail. They were wrong. What changed between the two efforts at health reform? Were the opinions of American voters drastically different? Had interest groups applied pressure to legislative groups? Had the economic factors surrounding health care facilitated change?

Paper : 3-4 pages

1. Review the forces opposing U.S. health reform in the last 100 years. Present an analysis of one of the opposing forces that addresses each of the following questions. If possible, select a force that impacts the public health policy you have selected for your Final Project: (Preventive Human Services)

2. How has the opposing force you selected complicated health reform efforts within the last 100 years? Be specific.

3. Explain whether changing political climates have or have not affected the force you selected.

4. Analyze how policymakers and policies have attempted to combat the opposing force and explain how successful their efforts have been.

5. Explain how health reform will or will not impact the policy you selected for your Final Project.

ANSWER

Forces Opposing U.S. Health Reform and their Impact on Preventive Human Services

Introduction

The United States has witnessed numerous attempts at health reform over the past century. However, these efforts have often faced opposition from various forces that have complicated the reform process. This paper aims to review the opposing forces that have hindered health reform in the last 100 years and analyze one specific force that impacts preventive human services, the selected public health policy (Obama, 2016). Additionally, it will discuss how political climates have influenced the selected force, examine policymakers’ attempts to combat it, and explore the potential impact of health reform on preventive human services.

Review of Opposing Forces

Several forces have historically opposed health reform in the United States. These include:

a) Economic Interests: Powerful stakeholders, such as insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and medical providers, have often resisted reforms that could potentially disrupt their profits or market dominance. These interests have often utilized lobbying and campaign contributions to exert pressure on legislative groups.

b) Ideological Differences: Divergent beliefs about the role of government in healthcare and the balance between individual freedom and societal responsibility have fueled opposition to health reform. Conservative ideologies emphasizing limited government intervention have clashed with progressive notions of healthcare as a public good.

c) Partisan Politics: Health reform efforts have often become entangled in partisan battles, with Democrats and Republicans differing on their priorities and preferred policy approaches. This polarization has led to gridlock and hindered the passage of comprehensive reforms.

Impact of Opposing Force on Preventive Human Services

In the context of preventive human services, the opposition from economic interests has significantly complicated health reform efforts. These interests have opposed initiatives that promote preventive care, aiming to preserve the current fee-for-service model, which favors expensive treatments over preventive measures (Kruk et al., 2018). They often argue that preventive services are not cost-effective or fail to generate immediate financial returns, undermining their support.

Influence of Changing Political Climates

Changing political climates have affected the force of economic interests opposing health reform. Shifts in public opinion, growing dissatisfaction with the current healthcare system, and evolving political ideologies have placed greater emphasis on preventive care and population health. As a result, the influence of economic interests opposing reform may fluctuate over time.

Policy Efforts to Combat the Opposing Force

Policymakers and policies have implemented several strategies to combat the opposition from economic interests. These include:

a) Affordable Care Act (ACA): The ACA, passed in 2010, introduced provisions to expand access to preventive services without cost-sharing. This policy aimed to counter economic interests’ arguments by emphasizing the long-term cost-effectiveness of preventive care.

b) Increased Funding and Incentives: Policymakers have allocated resources and implemented financial incentives to encourage the adoption of preventive human services. Examples include grants for community health programs, reimbursement reforms, and incentives for healthcare providers to prioritize preventive care.

c) Public Awareness and Education: Efforts have been made to educate the public about the benefits of preventive care and its potential impact on overall health outcomes. Public health campaigns and information dissemination aim to change perceptions and increase demand for preventive services.

The success of these efforts has been mixed, with progress in expanding preventive human services but ongoing challenges in fully overcoming the opposition from economic interests.

Impact of Health Reform on Preventive Human Services

Health reform has the potential to significantly impact preventive human services. Reforms that prioritize population health and preventive care can lead to increased access to preventive services, improved health outcomes, and cost savings in the long term (Fiscella, 2011). However, the success of such reforms depends on navigating opposition from economic interests and ensuring adequate funding and support for preventive initiatives.

Conclusion

Opposing forces, such as economic interests, have complicated health reform efforts in the United States over the last century. While changing political climates can influence the strength of these forces, they remain significant hurdles. Policymakers have implemented strategies to combat the opposition, but success has varied. Health reform holds the potential to positively impact preventive human services, but overcoming the resistance from economic interests and ensuring sustained support are crucial for achieving comprehensive reform and improving public health.

References 

Fiscella, K. (2011). Health Care Reform and Equity: Promise, Pitfalls, and Prescriptions. Annals of Family Medicine, 9(1), 78–84. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.1213 

Kruk, M. E., Gage, A. D., Arsenault, C., Jordan, K., Leslie, H. H., Roder-DeWan, S., Adeyi, O., Barker, P. M., Daelmans, B., Doubova, S. V., English, M., Garcia-Elorrio, E., Guanais, F. C., Gureje, O., Hirschhorn, L. R., Jiang, L., Kelley, E. F., Lemango, E. T., Liljestrand, J., . . . Pate, M. (2018). High-quality health systems in the Sustainable Development Goals era: time for a revolution. The Lancet Global Health, 6(11), e1196–e1252. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30386-3 

Obama, B. (2016). United States Health Care Reform. JAMA, 316(5), 525. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2016.9797