Chapter Eleven
A New Era of
Health Care: The
Ethics of Health
Care Reform
2
Health Care Reform in the U.S.
• HR 3590 and HR 4872 signed into law in 2010
(PPACA) by President Obama.
• PPACA represents a century of efforts to provide
access to high quality, affordable health care.
• Access, cost, and quality are the triumvirate mantra
of health care reform.
3
Health Care Reform in the U.S.
• There are three ways to provide universal coverage
for populations:
• The Bismarck Model.
• The Beveridge or National Health Service Model.
• The National Health Insurance Model.
4
A Bit of History
• Otto von Bismarck introduced universal healthcare
insurance in Germany in 1883.
• Other European countries provided universal
health care for a variety of variations and reasons.
• European plans evolved from wage protection
motives to providing medical and hospital
coverage.
5
A Bit of History for the U.S.
• Theodore Roosevelt was the first to support
universal health care insurance.
• His ideas were not supported by labor, medical
societies, the insurance business, and business
interests.
• Universal coverage was excluded from the Social
Security Act of 1935.
6
A Bit of History for the U.S.
• In 1939-1943, attempts were made to create
national health insurance, but they were not
successful.
• In 1948, President Truman campaigned strongly for
national health insurance.
• 71% of Americans were in favor of universal
coverage, but it never passed in Congress.
7
A Bit of History for the U.S.
• In 1960, there was a new effort to address the
healthcare coverage of the elderly through
Medicare.
• President Johnson’s political skills assisted in the
passage of Medicare in 1965.
• Medicaid, designed to provide care for needy
children, was also passed in 1965.
8
A Bit of History for the U.S.
• In 1971, President Nixon proposed a plan for
compulsory employment-based health insurance
that died a quick death.
• The Clinton administration attempted health care
reform with the Clinton National Health Security
Plan.
• This plan died in committee.
• Health policy legislation is not easy.
9
What contributed to PPACA?
• The percentage of the population without
insurance reached 16%
• Shortages of professionals lead to compromised
access to care.
• Costs for health care continued to rise and
quality lapses continued.
• Health care reform sought to: increase access,
improve quality, and control costs.
10
Key Areas of PPACA
• All Americans and legal immigrants must have
health insurance or pay a penalty. Exceptions exist.
• Businesses must provide health insurance.
• Medicaid eligibility was extended.
• Medicare benefits were improved.
11
Key Areas of PPACA
• Insurance reform was extensive.
• No lifetime limits were allowed.
• Preventive care must be provided with no copays.
• Minimum loss ratios were required.
• States received assistance to set up insurance
exchanges.
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Key Areas of PPACA
• The Act supported quality efforts.
• It supported research on quality and other areas.
• Coordination and integration of services was
required.
• Incentives and disincentives were based on quality
efforts.
13
Key Areas of PPACA
• The Act was concerned with adequate workforce
and coverage for underserved areas.
• There were incentives to increase the number and
balance of health care professionals.
• The Act was funded by new taxes, savings, and
penalties.
14
PPACA Is Phased In
• The provisions of the Act will be phased in through
stages beginning in 2010.
• Note the changes by year given in the Chapter.
• The Act will not be fully implemented until 2020.
15
REFORM and JUSTICE
• PPACA has increased access through affordability
and availability for approximately 50% of the
uninsured.
• It created incentives for quality.
• It struggles to maintain choice.
16
REFORM and JUSTICE
• Approximately 20 million people remain uninsured.
• Uninsured include undocumented immigrants,
exempt individuals, and eligible but not enrolled
Medicaid patients.
• Uninsured also includes those choosing to pay
penalties.
17
REFORM and JUSTICE
• PP ACA improved quality for Medicare.
• Pay for value or performance (P4P)
incentives/Disincentive are in place.
• Most newly insured patients were satisfied with
care.
• Tax credits improved affordability for health
insurance.
18
REFORM and JUSTICE
• However, insurance companies are exiting the
PPACA marketplaces.
• Their actions are because of cost and the losses.
• Consumer choice within these plans is decreasing.
19
REFORM and JUSTICE
• PP ACA was designed to decrease healthcare
spending.
• In in 2010 through 2013, spending did decrease.
• In 2014 to 2015, it increased because of
enrollment.
• Controlling healthcare cost remains a challenge.
20
Ethics Assumptions and Health
Care Reform
• Most societies and individuals conclude that there
is fundamental right to health care.
• Support also comes from WHO, The United
Nations, The Organization of American States, and
The U.S. Declaration of Independence.
• Religious traditions also support it.
21
Ethics Assumptions and Health
Care Reform
• Health care is a social good.
• Therefore, there is a social contract concerning the
good of individuals.
• The good of individuals benefit society as a whole.
• Therefore, providing universal access to healthcare
is ethical.
22
Ethics Assumptions and Health
Care Reform
• The Rawlsian view of social justice support
subsidized insurance plans. Under the difference
principle, there is a ethical duty to improve the life
of those worse off in a society.
• Therefore, providing access to healthcare through
social programs meets the categorical imperative.
23
Ethics Assumptions and Health
Care Reform
• Under the ACA states can refuse to expand
Medicaid services.
• Individuals can refuse to have health care insurance
and pay fine.
• These actions are in keeping with the libertarian
view of ethics and market justice.
24
Ethics Assumptions and Health
Care Reform
• The political environment shows conflicts between
Rawlsian ethics, and market forces (libertarian
ethics).
• The complexity of the issue and competing ethical
views make healthcare reform difficult.
25
Is Health Care Reformed?
• Given the need for addressing the three areas of
access, costs, and quality, PPACA will continue to be
a work in progress.
• The healthcare system will continue to be refined
and reformed in the years to come.
26
Is Health Care Reformed?
• Given the need for improving access, costs, and
quality, reforming health care is an ongoing issue.
• The fate of PPACA could be repeal, replace, or
repair.
• Whatever its fate, healthcare policy will continue
include ethics issues in the future.
27
In Summary…
28
Florida National University
Biomedical Ethics: Assignment Week 6
Student PowerPoint Presentation: Chapter 11
Objectives: The presentation project has more than a few objectives. This Chapter joins the
section on critical issues for healthcare organizations, but it is also important for patients and
their families. The writers of Chapter 11 faced the challenge of addressing changes that may or
may not happen, but they did provide background and ethics discussion. Because of the fluidity
of this topic, you will create a PowerPoint presentation.
Format and Guidelines: The student will produce a Power Point Presentation from Chapter 11
of the Textbook and Choose your desire topic form these chapter. The Presentation should have a
minimum of 12 slides, including Title Page, Introduction, Conclusion, and References.
The student must use other textbooks, research papers, and articles as references (minimum 3).
Originality: SafeAssign submission required
EACH POWEROIINT SHOULD INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
1. Title Page: Topic Name, Student Name
2. Introduction: Provide a brief synopsis of the meaning (not a description) of the topic you
choose, in your own words
3. Content Body: Progress your theme, provide Material, illustrations and Diagram to
explain, describe and clarify the Topic you choose.
4. Conclusion: Briefly summarize your thoughts & conclusion to your critique of the
Chapter you read.
5. References: The student must use other textbooks, research papers, and articles as
references (minimum 3).
Dr. Gisela Llamas
Florida National University
Biomedical Ethics: Assignment Week 6
Student PowerPoint Presentation: Chapter 11
Grading Sheet
Student Name __________________________________
Category
Possible Points
Presentation style and content.
30
Distributed bibliography w/ 3
additional readings
20
Inclusion of diversity content
Pictures, Graphic, etc.
20
Length: Minimum 12 slides
10
Required Format
20
TOTAL
100
Dr. Gisela Llamas
Date_____________________
Actual Points
ASSIGNMENT GRADING SYSTEM
A
90% - 100%
B+
85% - 89%
B
80% - 84%
C+
75% - 79%
C
70% - 74%
D
60% – 69%
F
50% - 59% Or less.
Dr. Gisela Llamas
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