the Module 5 Assessment Assessing a Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation.

Healthcare Program/Policy Evaluation

The impact of the ACA on access to healthcare services by adults living with diabetes

Description

ACA is the most transformational nationwide healthcare policy in America’s recent history. Commissioned by Pres. Obama in 2010, the program has been the driver of healthcare transformation in the country. The CDC looks at how the program has benefited adults with diabetes in terms of accessing healthcare services.

How was the success of the program or policy measured?

The evaluation looked at the impact of the program on the healthcare outcomes for people living with diabetes. It compared the outcomes for insured with uninsured persons. Some of the aspects of the evaluation included access to care and the expenditure on health services. The success of the program was measured against the outcomes for insured persons by looking at access between the groups, the uptake of healthcare services, and healthcare expenses.

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 least 29 million Americans were living with diabetes in 2012. When ACA came into force, it was supposed to provide access and cover to Americans who had remained uninsured for long. Within four years of implementation, ACA had reduced the number of uninsured persons by at least 9 million. A breakdown specific for adults living with diabetes is not available, but data shows that millions of Americans became a part of the nationwide program. In the years after the implementation of the program, about 2 million adults living with diabetes did not have healthcare insurance. During the first two years, ACA did not have significant healthcare improvements for people with diabetes.

What data was used to conduct the program or policy evaluation?

The evaluation utilized data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) for 2011 and 2012. MEPS  keeps a record of different kinds of healthcare data, including the amount of money people pay out of pocket for health services, the number of uninsured at any given time, the quality of service, and the healthcare outcomes. The evaluators examined the demographics of adults living with diabetes aged 19 to 64 years. They also considered other health-related information like access to care, expenditures, and the uptake of healthcare services.

What was the specific information on unintended consequences identified?