Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis

• Review the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template provided in the Resources.
• Select an existing healthcare program or policy evaluation or choose one of interest to you.
• Review community, state, or federal policy evaluation and reflect on the criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the program or policy described.
The Assignment: (2–3 pages)
Based on the program or policy evaluation you selected, complete the Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation Analysis Template. Be sure to address the following:
• Describe the healthcare program or policy outcomes.
• How was the success of the program or policy measured?
• How many people were reached by the program or policy selected?
• How much of an impact was realized with the program or policy selected?
• At what point in program implementation was the program or policy evaluation conducted?
• What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?
• What specific information on unintended consequences was identified?
• What stakeholders were identified in the evaluation of the program or policy? Who would benefit most from the results and reporting of the program or policy evaluation? Be specific and provide examples.
• Did the program or policy meet the original intent and objectives? Why or why not?
• Would you recommend implementing this program or policy in your place of work? Why or why not?
• Identify at least two ways that you, as a nurse advocate, could become involved in evaluating a program or policy after 1 year of implementation.

Full Answer Section

    Criteria for Measuring Effectiveness: The effectiveness of the ACA has been measured using a variety of criteria, including the following:
  • The number of people with health insurance: The ACA's goal was to expand health insurance coverage to all Americans. The law has been successful in achieving this goal, with an estimated 20 million Americans gaining health insurance coverage since the ACA was enacted.
  • The cost of health insurance: The ACA has also been credited with reducing the cost of health insurance for many Americans. The law has done this by providing subsidies to help people afford health insurance and by expanding Medicaid, the government-funded health insurance program for low-income Americans.
  • The quality of health care: The ACA has also been credited with improving the quality of health care for many Americans. The law has done this by requiring insurers to cover a wider range of preventive care services and by providing incentives for doctors and hospitals to improve the quality of care they provide.
Reflection: The ACA is a complex law with a wide range of impacts. The law has been successful in expanding health insurance coverage to millions of Americans and reducing the cost of health insurance for many people. However, the ACA has also been criticized for its complexity and for its high costs. The criteria used to measure the effectiveness of the ACA have been debated by experts. Some experts argue that the focus on the number of people with health insurance is too narrow and that other factors, such as the quality of health care, should also be considered. Others argue that the ACA has been too successful in expanding health insurance coverage and that this has led to higher costs. The ACA is still a relatively new law, and it is too early to say what its long-term impacts will be. However, the law has already had a significant impact on the healthcare system in the United States.

Sample Answer

  Program or Policy: The Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is a healthcare reform law enacted in the United States in 2010. The ACA has been the subject of much debate, with supporters praising its expansion of health insurance coverage and critics arguing that it has led to higher costs and decreased quality of care. Community, State, or Federal Policy Evaluation: The ACA has been evaluated at the community, state, and federal levels. A 2016 study by the Urban Institute found that the ACA had expanded health insurance coverage to an additional 20 million Americans. The study also found that the ACA had reduced the number of uninsured adults by 40%.