Healthcare Acts Of Legislation You Should Know As An American

Under the surveillance of Congress, the health agencies in the U.S. introduce laws aimed towards the general public’s well-being. The HHS or the Department of Health and Human Services looks after the health issues and general concerns of every citizen of the United States. It leads the initiatives for the improvement of public health as well as advanced medical research. In the year 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services called for the improvement of patient outcomes and the reduction in medical costs. The HHS has set certain goals and has worked towards them with the help of new laws. Following are some healthcare acts of legislation you should know as a citizen of the United States.

Medicare

Approximately 50 people in America receive insurance coverage from the Medicare program. In 1945, Harry Truman, the then president of the United States, wanted to ensure all the American citizens and urged Congress to bring it into order. John F. Kennedy, during his tenure as the president, was successful in providing insurance coverage to all the senior citizens in the country. As per the Congressional Budget Office forecast, the Medicare program is all set to survive for an indefinite period.

Medicaid

The legislation by President Johnson in 1965 had a provision that entitles individuals and families with a low income to insurance coverage. In present times, Medicaid has offered insurance coverage to more than 70 million U.S. citizens. In 2014 hospitals received approximately half of all the medical expenditures to compensate them. Different types of people, such as expectant mothers without insurance, unemployed workers, and disabled people, get insurance coverage under the Medicaid program. If you consider the recent reports, the new legislation is reducing the percentage of uninsured citizens in the country to below 9%. The Medicaid program boasts of the highest coverage percentage in the history of the United States.

Healthcare Quality Improvement Act of 1986

HCQIA, or the Healthcare Quality Improvement Act, offers institutions and medical professionals immunity when conducting assessments. The law came into existence after a Supreme Court ruling about the abuse of evaluating the quality of physicians. This law protects medical professionals from trouble in situations where they face legal action related to the peer-review process. The law also encourages all physicians to face risky and unprofessional peer conduct.

Children’s Health Insurance Program

CHIP or Children’s Healthcare Program has been providing health coverage to kids who come from low-income families. It is the 2009 Children’s Health Insurance Authorization Act that CHIP originated from. It has delivered services to all those clients who did not qualify on previous occasions. Underprivileged kids benefit from this. That is because they receive funds from their states and the federal governments. This service has been made accessible to a maximum number of children from low-income households in the history of the United States with the help of the ACA or Affordable Care Act.

The 2010 Affordable Care Act

ACA or the Affordable Care Act, a more or less modified version of all the coverage programs that the U.S. presidents envisaged in their times. President Barack Obama made it effective in 2010 and thus changing the face of healthcare. According to the ACA, a majority of American citizens must have health insurance coverage. If they fail to apply or enroll themselves, they have to pay a fine.

As per the law, for companies that have over 200 employees, providing health insurance coverage is a must. Some protected groups are, however, exempted from a penalty. The American Health Benefits Exchange came into effect following the ACA. This enables American citizens to review an insurance plan and compare them with others.

Conclusion

Besides this, there is much more important healthcare legislation that professionals should know about. This includes the PSQIA or Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005, HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, and HRRP or Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. However, remember that these laws vary from state to state and country to country. So, make sure you do ample research on your local laws for a better understanding! Awareness about the local laws and legislation would help you know your rights and safeguard you during medical emergencies. Was this blog helpful? Do let us know your thoughts in the comments section!