The Affordable Care Act as a national experiment : health policy innovations and lessons

This book examines the landmark 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) from the perspective of health policy research as translational science. It delineates a new perspective about the creation and potential impact of the ACA and guides the development of health policy that is supported by best evidence that, in turn, transforms into practice, policy, and public benefit. Told by those involved in the creation and implementation of the ACA, the book reviews the history and impact of this ground-breaking legislation and recommends priorities, objectives, and next steps for translational research as the ACA is implemented. The book includes coverage of these topics: · Objectives of the ACA · Analysis of data collected from healthcare reform programs in Vermont and Massachusetts to inform national implementation of the ACA · Engaging the public in, and building support for, ACA implementation · Interplay of federal, state, and local healthcare policy decisions arising from the enforcement of the ACA Featuring contributions from nationally renowned leaders in healthcare policy, this book adds to the public conversation about the ACA and its role in shaping health policy and contributes to a more realistic, nuanced, and productive understanding of this landmark legislation by physicians, policy makers, and the public. It also provides a framework for next steps in continuing to improve U.S. health policy. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Introduction: The Affordable Care Act as a National Experiment....Pages 1-5 Front Matter....Pages 7-7 Commentary on Part I: Objectives of the ACA....Pages 9-15 Delivering on the Promise of the Affordable Care Act....Pages 17-26 What We Got (and What Might Have Been): A Distinctly American Approach....Pages 27-35 Front Matter....Pages 37-37 Commentary on Part II: Conducting the Experiment....Pages 39-44 The Affordable Care Act as an Experiment: Data We Have, Expect to Have, and Should Have, from a Vermont Pilot Study....Pages 45-56 The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation: Its Purpose, Processes, and Desired Outcomes....Pages 57-62 The Dream of a National Health Information Technology Infrastructure....Pages 63-68 Results from a Massachusetts Pilot Study....Pages 69-83 Front Matter....Pages 85-85 Commentary on Part III: Engaging the Public....Pages 87-90 The Value Proposition for Individuals and the Public....Pages 91-98 Messaging, Medicine, and Obamacare....Pages 99-107 Front Matter....Pages 109-109 Commentary on Part IV: From Personal to Political to Policy—What Next?....Pages 111-115 Supreme Court Review of the ACA and Political Gamesmanship....Pages 117-126 Medicaid Expansion Challenges States....Pages 127-141 Next Experiments in ACA Legislation and Policy....Pages 143-148 Epilogue....Pages 149-150 Back Matter....Pages 151-155 This book examines the landmark 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) from the perspective that health policy innovation is translational research directed at improving health. It delineates a new perspective about the creation and potential impact of the ACA and guides the development of health policy that is supported by best evidence that, in turn, transforms into practice, policy, and public benefit. Told by those involved in the creation and implementation of the ACA, the book reviews the history and impact of this ground-breaking legislation and recommends priorities, objectives, and next steps for translational research as the ACA is implemented. Featuring contributions from nationally renowned leaders in healthcare policy, this book adds to the public conversation about the ACA and its role in shaping health policy and contributes to a more realistic, nuanced, and productive understanding of this ground-breaking legislation by physicians, policy makers, and the public. It also provides a framework for next steps in continuing to improve U.S. health policy Harry P. Selker, June S. Wasser, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.