Medicare: How it Improves Cost-Effectiveness and Health Care Equity
Benchmark - Population Health Policy Analysis
Select a current or proposed health care policy that is designed to improve a specific population’s access to quality, cost-effective health care. In a paper of 1,000-1,250 words, include the following: I do not need 1375 words. I did not see a price for up to 1250 words.
Explain the policy and how it is designed to improve cost-effectiveness and health care equity for the population. Is the policy financially sound? Why or why not? How does the policy account for any relevant ethical, legal, and political factors and the nursing perceptive one must consider when implementing it?
To what state, federal, global health policies or goals is this particular policy related? How well do you think the policy is designed to achieve those goals?
Finally, discuss the advocacy strategies you would employ on behalf of your population to ensure they have access to the benefits of the policy. Explain, from a Christian perspective, the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurse to advocate for and promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations.
You are required to cite five to 10 sources to complete this assignment. Sources must be published within the last 5 years and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Please review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite. Refer to the LopesWrite Technical Support articles for assistance.
Benchmark Information
This benchmark assignment assesses the following programmatic competencies:
MS Nursing: Public Health
MS Nursing: Education
MS Nursing: Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
MS Nursing: Family Nurse Practitioner
MS Nursing: Health Care Quality and Patient Safety
2.1: Examine financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors.
2.2: Determine advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations.
4.2: Integrate appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals into the design of equitable health care for populations.
4.3: Examine the professional and moral obligation of master's-prepared nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective.
Benchmark - Population Health Policy Analysis - Rubric
No of Criteria: 10 Achievement Levels: 5
Criteria
Achievement Levels
DescriptionPercentage
Unsatisfactory
0.00 %
Less than Satisfactory
80.00 %
Satisfactory
88.00 %
Good
92.00 %
Excellent
100.00 %
Content
70.0
Financially Sound Health Care Policy That Incorporates the Nursing Perspective and Relevant Ethical, Legal, and Political Factors (C2.1)
20.0
A discussion of financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors is not included.
A discussion of financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.
A discussion of financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors is present.
A discussion of financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors is clearly provided and well developed.
A comprehensive discussion of financially sound health care policy that incorporates the nursing perspective and relevant ethical, legal, and political factors is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Integration of Appropriate State, Federal, and Global Health Policies and Goals Related to Equitable Health Care for Populations (C4.2)
20.0
A discussion of appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals related to equitable health care for populations is not included.
A discussion of appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals related to equitable health care for populations is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.
A discussion of appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals related to equitable health care for populations is present.
A discussion of appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals related to equitable health care for populations is clearly provided and well developed.
A comprehensive discussion of appropriate state, federal, and global health policies and goals related to equitable health care for populations is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Advocacy Strategies for Improving Access, Quality, and Cost-Effective Health Care for Diverse Populations (C2.2)
10.0
A discussion of advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations is not included.
A discussion of advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.
A discussion of advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations is present.
A discussion of advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations is clearly provided and well developed.
A comprehensive discussion of advocacy strategies for improving access, quality, and cost-effective health care for diverse populations is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
The Professional and Moral Obligation of Advanced Registered Nurses to Respect Human Dignity and Advance the Common Good Through Working to Promote Health and Prevent Disease Among Diverse Populations from a Christian Perspective (C4.3)
15.0
A discussion of the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective is not included.
A discussion of the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective is present, but it lacks detail or is incomplete.
A discussion of the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective is present.
A discussion of the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective is clearly provided and well developed.
A comprehensive discussion of the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to respect human dignity and advance the common good through working to promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations from a Christian perspective is thoroughly developed with supporting details.
Required Sources
5.0
Sources are not included.
Number of required sources is only partially met.
Number of required sources is met, but sources are outdated or inappropriate.
Number of required sources is met. Sources are current, but not all sources are appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
Number of required resources is met. Sources are current, and appropriate for the assignment criteria and nursing content.
Organization and Effectiveness
20.0
Thesis Development and Purpose
7.0
Paper lacks any discernible overall purpose or organizing claim.
Thesis is insufficiently developed or vague. Purpose is not clear.
Thesis is apparent and appropriate to purpose.
Thesis is clear and forecasts the development of the paper. Thesis is descriptive and reflective of the arguments and appropriate to the purpose.
Thesis is comprehensive and contains the essence of the paper. Thesis statement makes the purpose of the paper clear.
Argument Logic and Construction
8.0
Statement of purpose is not justified by the conclusion. The conclusion does not support the claim made. Argument is incoherent and uses noncredible sources.
Sufficient justification of claims is lacking. Argument lacks consistent unity. There are obvious flaws in the logic. Some sources have questionable credibility.
Argument is orderly, but may have a few inconsistencies. The argument presents minimal justification of claims. Argument logically, but not thoroughly, supports the purpose. Sources used are credible. Introduction and conclusion bracket the thesis.
Argument shows logical progressions. Techniques of argumentation are evident. There is a smooth progression of claims from introduction to conclusion. Most sources are authoritative.
Clear and convincing argument that presents a persuasive claim in a distinctive and compelling manner. All sources are authoritative.
Mechanics of Writing (includes spelling, punctuation, grammar, language use)
5.0
Surface errors are pervasive enough that they impede communication of meaning. Inappropriate word choice or sentence construction is used.
Frequent and repetitive mechanical errors distract the reader. Inconsistencies in language choice (register) or word choice are present. Sentence structure is correct but not varied.
Some mechanical errors or typos are present, but they are not overly distracting to the reader. Correct and varied sentence structure and audience-appropriate language are employed.
Prose is largely free of mechanical errors, although a few may be present. The writer uses a variety of effective sentence structures and figures of speech.
Writer is clearly in command of standard, written, academic English.
Format
10.0
Paper Format (Use of appropriate style for the major and assignment)
5.0
Template is not used appropriately or documentation format is rarely followed correctly.
Template is used, but some elements are missing or mistaken; lack of control with formatting is apparent.
Template is used, and formatting is correct, although some minor errors may be present.
Template is fully used; There are virtually no errors in formatting style.
All format elements are correct.
Documentation of Sources (citations, footnotes, references, bibliography, etc., as appropriate to assignment and style)
5.0
Sources are not documented.
Documentation of sources is inconsistent or incorrect, as appropriate to assignment and style, with numerous formatting errors.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, although some formatting errors may be present.
Sources are documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is mostly correct.
Sources are completely and correctly documented, as appropriate to assignment and style, and format is free of error.
Total Percentage 100
Nursing
Name
Institution
Course
Professor
Date
Nursing Medicare is a federal health insurance policy that was started by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 under the Social Security Administration (SSA) but is now overseen by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). The program was created with the goal of giving health and financial security to persons aged 65 and older, irrespective of their income, health status, or medical history. It was later extended in 1972 to cover younger people with disabilities as decided by SSA as well as individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and end stage renal disease. Most individuals on Medicare have several chronic conditions and experience difficulties in the daily living activities. Many beneficiaries also live on modest incomes of below $26,200 and savings below $74,450 (KFF, 2019). Medicare benefits are planned and paid in various ways: Part A covers inpatient and hospice services; Part B covers outpatient services and professionally administered medications; Part C allows patients to enroll in a private health plan that has the same coverage as Parts A, B, and D; while Part D mostly covers self-administered drugs. This paper will discuss the financial soundness of Medicare, how it accounts for relevant ethical, legal, and political factors as well as the nursing perspective necessary when implementing it. It will also discuss the advocacy strategies I would employ on behalf of my population to ensure they have access to the benefits of the policy. Moreover, the essay will also provide an explanation from a Christian perspective or the professional and moral obligation of advanced registered nurses to advocate for and promote health and prevent disease among diverse populations. By several measures, the financial status of Medicare has improved remarkably since the passing of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2010 although it faces long-term financial challenges from rising health care expenses and a growing aging population. The policy’s Hospital Insurance trust fund that caters for beneficiaries’ hospital bills is facing solvency issues. Medicare’s actuaries project that there are enough funds to cover all part A benefits until 2028 after which the policy will only be able to cover 87% of costs through payroll tax revenues. The insolvency issues are the result of an expanding aging populations together with higher health care expenses. It is estimated that by 2050, the population of people aged 65 and older will double, those aged 80 and older will be thrice the existing population, while the number of people aged between 90 and 100 will be four times the current number. The policy’s per capita costs increase with age, and individuals aged 80 and over make up a disparate care of Medicare costs. Consequently, the rising numbers will continue to put increased pressure on per capita and total Medicare expenses and there are concerns that spending on benefits may outstrip revenues and deplete the trust fund account (Cubanski & Neuman, 2017). Medicare expenses are also expected to keep rising as a result of service price and intensity, disease prevalence, as well as medical service utilization. Higher health care expenses will continue to be a financial challenge to the policy’s solvency. The passing of ACA was meant to improve the accessibility and cost of health cover. It entailed several provisions meant to cut Medicare costs while sustaining or enhancing the value of medical care. The CMS implemented the accountable care organizations (ACOs) as a payment and service delivery model aimed at improving community health by increasing accessibility and cost of health insurance. It also offered financial incentives to healthcare institutions providing care to Medicare beneficiaries if they met certain benchmarks and quality measures (Averill, Fuller, McCullough, & Hughes, 2016). Under this new payment and service delivery model health institutions and clinicians are expected to work towards improving the overall quality of the care they are providing, with special focus given to value and organization of care. Besides the desire to increase availability and quality of care to beneficiaries, the policy is also guided by the need to provide equal opportunity and access to medical care, especially for seniors and disabled persons with m...