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The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA, also known as ObamaCare) became law on May 23, 2010. It strives to reform the health insurance and health care industries in an effort to cut health care costs and provide Americans with affordable health insurance. The ACA also strives to expand Medicare and Medicaid to assist those Americans who cannot currently afford health insurance. As a result of the reforms, there may be a significant influx of patients into the health care system. In addition, there will be a greater focus on integrating health care services, particularly for individuals with physical and mental health conditions. It is expected that under the ACA, social workers will take a more active role in the coordination of care for existing and new members of the health care system. Social workers will also provide additional direct, frontline services to patients.
To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s resources. Consider the debate over the ACA and explore the reputable sources on the Internet for additional resources on the balanced debates over the ACA. Consider how the ACA might expand meaningful services to all Americans including children, young adults, uninsured minorities, and spouses of employed individuals. Consider one population.
Post a description of the findings of your research on the debate over ACA. Explain some of the misconceptions or misunderstandings the general population might have about the ACA. Explain how the ACA may or may not increase affordability, health insurance coverage, and access to health care services for the population you selected. Explain the potential or documented influence of the ACA on medical social work practice. Describe the medical social worker’s role in clarifying the ACA to patients and families. Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the resources and the current literature using appropriate APA format and style.
Gehlert, S., & Browne, T. (Eds.). (2012). Handbook of health social work (2nd ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Chapter 5, “Health Policy and Social Work” (pp. 100–124)
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.cms.gov/ Burg, M. A., Zebrack, B., Walsh, K., Maramaldi, P., Lim, J. W., Smolinski, K. M., & Lawson, K. (2010). Barriers to accessing quality health care for cancer patients: A survey of members of the association of oncology social work. Social Work in Health Care, 49(1), 38–52.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
Chaumba, J. (2011). Health status, use of health care resources, and treatment strategies of Ethiopian and Nigerian immigrants in the United States. Social Work in Health Care, 50(6), 466–481.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
Allen, H. (2012). Is there a social worker in the house? Health care reform and the future of medical social work. Health and Social Work, 37(3), 183–186.
Note: Retrieved from Walden Library databases.
Collins, S. (2012). Essential health benefits & the Affordable Care Act: What social workers need to know. Retrieved from https://www.socialworkers.org/assets/secured/documents/practice/health/essentialhealthbenefits.pdf
Gross, W., Stark, T. H., Krosnick, J., Pasek, J., Sood, G., … Junius, D. (n.d.). Americans’ attitudes toward the Affordable Care Act: Would better public understanding increase or decrease favorability? Retrieved from http://www.stanford.edu/dept/communication/faculty/krosnick/docs/2012/Health%20Care%202012%20-%20Knowledge%20and%20Favorability.pdf
Lindberg, E. (2013). What will Obamacare mean to social work? Retrieved from http://sowkweb.usc.edu/news/what-will-obamacare-mean-social-work Reisch, M. (2012). The challenges of health care reform for hospital social work in the United States. Social Work in Health Care, 51(10), 873–893.
