The Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010. It is also referred to as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Sullivan, 2018). The Act aimed at providing extensive coverage for American residents with regards to health insurance. The Act heralded numerous changes which affected human resources. Prior to the ACA’s implementation, the rate applicable to unemployment was estimated at 9.9% whereas payroll employment accounted for a value of 130 million. As of 2015, the rate indicated for unemployment decreased to a margin of 5.5% whereas the payrolls attributable to employers indicated an 11.3 million boost (Burtless, 2015). The current paper aims at establishing the pros and cons of the affordable care act on employment, an infographic presentation of the act's new requirements, hiring practices relating to healthcare, approaches to employee benefits and potential human resources challenges.
Insurers, pharmaceutical manufacturers and those engaged in the production of medical devices expect numerous taxes for their earned as well as unearned incomes at a value of more than $200000 for single individuals whereas couples attract a total of $250000 (Holahan & Garret, 2011). Such increments in taxes leveled the providers of healthcare as well as insurance connote an increment and prices for the acquisition of medical devices, the required drugs in addition to insurance premiums. The outcome anticipated includes a reduction in the demand or employment opportunities in such sectors.
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On the other hand, the Act contributes to an increment in insurance policies sponsored by respective employers. As a result, the plans used are not only comprehensive but also less expensive. Estimates provided by the Department of Health and Human Services indicated that such provisions accounted for the enrollment of 2.3 million individuals above 25 years in respective plans for insurance (Burtless, 2015).
Extensive Medicaid coverage coupled with respective subsidies related to income guarantee an overall increment in federal expenditure relating to healthcare. Projections indicate that from 2014 to 2019, the expenditure anticipated is at a value of $938 billion (Holahan & Garret, 2011). As a result, such provisions underscore an increment in anticipated labour demands.
Infographic on the New ACA Requirements
The Affordable Care Act Prerequisites
Training Plan and Approach to Training
Training endeavors will extensively focus on the educational level attributable to health practitioners as well as licensed care providers. As a result, it becomes possible to maximize on their acquired skills to foster efficiency. The areas considered for training would include various methods of remitting payment in accordance to Medicaid programs coupled with strategies which foster service delivery with extensive utilization of medical as well as clinically integrated organizations which offer accountable care (Hu et al., 2016). The plans aim at fostering efficiency with regards to the access of patients in the circumstances mandating bundled payments.
Healthcare Hiring Practices
Hiring processes aim at focusing on the acquisition of innovative as well as adaptable employees. Such a requirement fosters the ability to accommodate changes while ensuring the application of unique improved solutions (Warren, n.d.). In addition, candidates for respective positions should adhere to concepts which facilitate value-based purchasing. In such circumstances, adhering to protocols which ensure client safety becomes relevant as well as the practitioner’s capacity to thrive in a patient-centered culture. Hiring processes aim at focusing extensively on the outcomes that an individual practitioner can achieve for an operational facility which improve patient well-being.
Employee Benefits Approach
The Affordable Care Act extended numerous benefits to employees working in large facilities. Hospitals and other institutions which offer health services qualify under the categorization where they employ over 100 individuals. Employees became beneficiaries of insurance plans which focused on benefits such as treatment for various forms of mental ailments, chronic diseases as well as addiction. Efforts could incorporate easier access for practitioners to association plans with a focus on health ensuring the acquisition of low costs for respective covers suitable for their individual needs.
Human Resources Challenges
An expansion in the coverage of health insurance poses huge demands for national hospitals albeit their shortage in staffing. For example, estimates indicate that one physician is mandated to offer some primary care for every 2000 individuals in the American populace. Moreover, active physicians providing primary care account for 33% of professionals in the United States which portends numerous difficulties in effectively dealing with population demands (Knowles, 2018).
Moreover, it becomes mandatory for health practitioners to incorporate some versatility in service provision. As a result, offering comprehensive care becomes more comfortable. In the same breath, such requirements rely on and individuals acquisition of different skills which mandates extensive training for already operating practitioners.
Conclusion
The Affordable Care Act led to some Medicaid and its subsequent increment with regards to health coverage. However, it increased the demand for available services resulting in some immense pressure for health practitioners. Furthermore, it changed the practices applicable to hiring while portending some challenges regarding the acquisition of human resources for the provision of health services.
References
Burtless, G. (2015, March 20). Employment impacts of the Affordable Care Act . Retrieved on 14 March 2019, from https://www.brookings.edu/blog/usc-brookings-schaeffer-on-health-policy/2015/03/20/employment-impacts-of-the-affordable-care-act/
Holahan, J., & Garret, B. (2011, March). How will the affordable care act affect jobs? Timely analysis of immediate health policy issues. Urban Institute. Retrieved on 14 March 2019, from https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/27221/412319-How-Will-the-Affordable-Care-Act-Affect-Jobs-.PDF
Hu, L., Kaestner, R., Mazumder, B., Miller, S., & Wong, A. (2016). The effect of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansions on financial wellbeing (No. w22170). National Bureau of economic research.
Knowles, M. (2018, September 11). 13% of Americans live in county with shortage of primary care physicians. Retrieved on 14 March 2019, from https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/hospital-physician-relationships/13-of-americans-live-in-county-with-shortage-of-primary-care-physicians.html
Sullivan, D. (2018, October 23). The Affordable Care Act: Healthcare reform in the U.S . Retrieved on 14 March 2019, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/247287.php
Warren, B. (n.d.). Four Effects Obamacare will have on healthcare talent acquisition . Retrieved on 14 March 2019, from http://www.selectinternational.com/blog/four-effects-obamacare-will-have-on-healthcare-talent-acquisition
