Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 or Affordable Care Act or ACA

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis
Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) of 2010 or Affordable Care Act or ACA
Description
The US Congress approved the Affordable Care Act in 2010. President Barack Obama signed the ACA focusing on expanding health insurance, emphasizing provisions related to the expansion of health insurance. The ACA brought some of the major changes in the US health care system after Medicare, focusing on coverage expansions and reducing disparities.
How was the success of the program or policy measured?
The program was evaluated by state-level coverage expansion with improved access to care for the previously uninsured. The number of uninsured patients decreased significantly after the PPACA was passed (Ugwi,Lyu & Wehby, 2019). Medicaid expansions and reforms encouraged universal health care coverage and competition in private insurance where markets and choice also facilitated access to care.
How many people were reached by the program or policy selected? How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
Approximately more than 20 million people got health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including under the Medicaid insurance program (CBPP, 2019). While millions got coverage, different sources highlighted estimates, but improved access to healthcare was improved.
The program resulted in Medicaid expansion and lower uninsured rate, pre-existing condition protections, and the most noticeable change was the increase in health insurance coverage.
At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
Data was collected after program implementation to support planning and evaluation while involving various stakeholders to seek their support. The implementation of ACA was evaluated after states adopted ACA provisions, even as there were states that were slow to embrace the provisions. For states opposed to the ACA, there were concerns that expanding Medicaid programs and other provisions would cause a heavy burden on states.
What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
Health insurance premiums increased substantially for some groups after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed. There was an excise tax on employer-sponsored plans depending on whether they went above the threshold premium level. The premium has increased faster than expected, and health care costs and premiums are growing faster than the consumer price index (CPI). Employers pay extra premiums or choose less expensive plans.
What specific information on unintended consequences were identified?
Health insurance premiums increased substantially for some groups after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was p...