Step 1:Read the following:
The role of government in healthcare has certainly evolved over time. Background: In 1798, President John Adams signed the Act for the Relief of Sick and Disabled Seamen, imposing a twenty cent per month tax on sailors to be used to pay for care at various American ports. This was America’s first federal “insurance mandate” and the first socialized medical program. The program was a small, but impactful, step on the part of the federal government, and it gradually led to the building of federal hospitals and, ultimately, to the development of the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS), which still exists today!
There have been numerous developments since then, including the creation of both the Medicare and Medicaid programs in 1965 and more recently, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was passed in 2010.
Healthcare as a “right” is a widely debated topic. Shi and Singh (2019) state it well: many people feel that health coverage in the U.S. “is considered a privilege for those offered insurance through employers, and the government is left to take on a gap-filling role for the most vulnerable of the uninsured population” (p. 311).
Step 2: Post the initial response to the Discussion Forum by Wednesday at 11:59 PM, Denver time (MT). (At least 250 words).
In your post, respond to the following questions and, if it’s relevant, include your own personal experience:
- Based on your research, what beneficial changes came from the Affordable Care Act (ACA)? Were there negative outcomes as well?
- Do you agree with Shi & Singh’s above statement? Is medical insurance a privilege for workers to receive, or should it be a universal right? Why or why not?
- What is your own personal experience as a nurse with your patients and their health care coverage?
- Reminder: Cite ALL sources in APA format: both in-text and end references.