Posted: January 12th, 2023

Assignment 1: Affordable Care Act Analysis Paper

Assignment 1: Affordable Care Act Analysis Paper (29 points)
The student will write a scholarly paper that analyzes the ethical, political, economic, and cultural impact of the 2010 Patient
Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) on patient and population outcomes.
Assignment Criteria:
Develop a scholarly paper that addresses the following criteria:
1. Provide a brief overview of the ACA
2. Compare and contrast how the ACA has changed from 2010 to the current healthcare environment of 2022.
3. Describe the impact ACA has on patient and population outcomes from the following perspectives:
 Ethical
 Political
 Economic (include cost-effectiveness and sustainability)
 Cultural
4. Discuss how the doctoral of nursing practice (DNP) is prepared to positively impact patient and population outcomes through:
 Commitment to system solutions
 Evidence-based leadership skills
 Sound financial decisions
5. The scholarly paper should be in narrative format, 5 to 6 pages excluding the title and reference page.
6. Include an introductory paragraph, purpose statement, and a conclusion.
7. Include level 1 and 2 headings to organize the paper.
8. Write the paper in third person, not first person (meaning do not use ‘we’ or ‘I’) and in a scholarly manner. To clarify: I, we,
you, me, our may not be used. In addition, describing yourself as the researcher or the author should not be used.
9. Include a minimum of five (5) professional peer-reviewed scholarly journal references to support the paper (review in Ulrich
Periodical Directory) and be less than five (5) years old.
10. APA format is required (attention to spelling/grammar, a title page, a reference page, and in-text citations).
11. Submit the assignment to Turnitin prior to the final submission, review the originality report, and make any needed changes.
12. Submit by the posted due date.
Assignment 1: Affordable Care Act Analysis Paper Grading Rubric (29 points)
Assignment Criteria 12 points 10 points 4 points 2 points
All topics/criteria
addressed, and all
questions fully answered.
All topics/criteria
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The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, was signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama. Its main goal was to increase access to healthcare and reduce the number of uninsured Americans. The ACA did this by expanding Medicaid, creating health insurance marketplaces, and implementing various regulations and subsidies to make health insurance more affordable.
Since its implementation in 2010, the ACA has undergone several changes. In 2017, the individual mandate, which required individuals to purchase health insurance or pay a penalty, was repealed as part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Additionally, several states have expanded Medicaid through waivers and other means. However, the current healthcare environment of 2022 has seen a continued effort by some to repeal or undermine the ACA, including legal challenges to the law and the elimination of the individual mandate.
From an ethical perspective, the ACA has had a positive impact on patient outcomes by increasing access to healthcare for millions of Americans. This has helped to reduce disparities in healthcare access and outcomes for marginalized communities. However, some argue that the ACA has not done enough to address issues of healthcare affordability and that certain provisions, such as the individual mandate, may be seen as ethically problematic.
Politically, the ACA has been a contentious issue since its implementation. The law has faced opposition from Republicans and some conservative groups, who argue that it represents government overreach and that it is unaffordable. On the other hand, supporters of the ACA argue that it is necessary to ensure that all Americans have access to healthcare.
Economically, the ACA has had a positive impact on patient and population outcomes by reducing the number of uninsured Americans and slowing the growth of healthcare costs. However, some argue that the ACA has not done enough to address issues of healthcare affordability, particularly for those who are not eligible for subsidies. Additionally, concerns have been raised about the long-term sustainability of the ACA, particularly with regards to funding for Medicaid expansion.
From a cultural perspective, the ACA has had a positive impact on patient and population outcomes by increasing access to healthcare for marginalized communities. However, some argue that the ACA has not done enough to address issues of healthcare disparities and that certain provisions, such as the individual mandate, may be seen as culturally insensitive.
In terms of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), this advanced degree program is well-suited to positively impact patient and population outcomes through a commitment to system solutions, evidence-based leadership skills, and sound financial decisions. DNP-prepared nurses can play a key role in developing and implementing innovative healthcare models that improve access, quality, and outcomes for patients and populations. They can also use their advanced knowledge and skills to advocate for policies and practices that promote health equity and reduce healthcare disparities.