Healthcare Policies of George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump

Agenda Comparison Introduction Vulnerable populations have become the center of concern in contemporary healthcare. Over the years, different U.S. administrations have invested in eliminating disparities in healthcare. However, more people seem to be facing the same challenges that the government seems motivated to address in their campaigns. Several people are still considered vulnerable based on factors including susceptibility to chronic illnesses, economic and social disadvantages, and racial factors. People who belong to such vulnerable populations have barely the same access to healthcare services as the rest of the populations. Unfortunately, such individuals who need to access or afford healthcare services more do not have the voice to air their grievances. Hence, stakeholders in healthcare remain challenged to revitalize healthcare by instigating policies and initiatives that can voice the demands of vulnerable populations. With politics playing a vital role in the healthcare policy, it is important to understand what different administrations have instituted to address an issue that vulnerable populations face. This analysis will compare healthcare policies aimed at addressing vulnerable populations, especially low-income individuals, through the administrations of George Bush, Barack Obama, and Donald Trump. Agenda Comparison Grid and Fact Sheet

Part 1: Agenda Comparison Grid
The Population Health concern
Health risks among vulnerable populations: Low-income individuals/the homeless
Description of the Population Health concern
 
In 2017, data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that about 554,000 individuals were homeless within the U.S. in a single night. In 2019, the number of low-income individuals in the U.S. stood at 34 million people. Such individuals cannot afford basic needs, including food, clothing, and shelter. With such characteristics, low-income individuals are more susceptible to various health conditions. Low-income individuals are more likely to have chronic illnesses, and the impacts of such illnesses can easily escalate to severity. Additionally, those who deserve the best from America's healthcare are left wallowing in behavioral health issues, substance use problems, and chronic medical conditions. More efforts should be geared towards a sustainable change. Factors such as race, historical injustices, and poor policies have been blamed for the healthcare risks among underserved populations.
 
Administration (President Name)
President Trump
President Obama
President Bush
Description of the administrative agenda focus related to this issue.
 
Expansion of Medicaid through the American Healthcare Act (AHCA)
President Trump's focus was anchored on accessibility to healthcare services.Trump emphasized the expansion of healthcare insurance services to populations that could not afford them at the moment.The Trump-Ryan policy in AHCA suggested per capita Medicaid grants rather than block grants.The implementation of per capita grants would accord states the freedom to states to run independent Medicaid programs. In essence, that would give states the power to affect their vulnerable populations more than the current policy, whose focus is majorly generalized. 
The Obama administration employed the Affordable Care Act to address the needs of vulnerable populations.
Through A.C.A., the rates of health insurance coverage for low-income Americans, including vulnerable populations, would be improved dramatically.People with incomes up to 138% of poverty would enroll in Medicaid with little or no cost-sharing, especially in states that opted to expand Medicaid.Refundable Health Credits for Low-Income Families and Individuals
Bush proposed refundable health credit for vulnerable populations.Individuals making less than $15,000 and families making less than $30,000 would be annually eligible for the refundable health credit program.Through the health credits, vulnerable populations would gain up to 90% coverage of their healthcare needs (Lavanty, 2018).The objective would be to lower the health insurance costs to allow more Americans to purchase the policies.The policy would also allow small businesses to secure insurance through associations.The policy would also create a flexible savings account and medical savings account for low-income employees to cater to their long-term healthcare needs.The Allocations of Financial and other Resources
The financial allocations of per capita Medicaid would be executed in the federal budget.
AHCA proposed cutting Medicaid expenditure by $839 billion in 10 years (Lavanty, 2018).
A comprehensive AHCA report would reduce the Medicaid expenditures by a further $610 billion in the same time frame.
Bearing the $613 billion financial allocations to Medicaid in 2019, the AHCA numbers suggested an estimated 20% reduction in annual expenditure by 2030 (Lavanty, 2018).
The Obama administration included vulnerable populations under Medicaid coverage. $613 billion financial allocations to Medicaid in 2019. The allocations changed each financial year.
The financial resources would be allocated by the federal government (Lamb et al., 2015). Upon proving their eligibility, families would gain a $2,000 annual allocation while individuals would gain an annual allocation of $1,000.
How each of the presidential administrations approached the issue.
 
The Trump administration gave vulnerable population...