I’m working on a health & medical discussion question and need the explanation and answer to help me learn.
- Select an actual hospital and explain why uncompensated care (UC) is such a large problem for this type of facility.
- Why do some experts worry that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may not mitigate the problem of UC at these facilities?
Resources
Beherec, S. (2015). Uncompensated care: Weighing private option boost, medicare cuts. Arkansas Business, 32(31), 1.
NewsCAP: Medicaid expansion may reduce uncompensated care costs for hospitals. (2016). AJN, American Journal of Nursing, 116(9), 15-15. doi:10.1097/01.NAJ.0000494677.92970.ce
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: In the healthcare industry, uncompensated care (UC) is a major issue for hospitals and medical facilities. In this discussion, we will focus on an actual hospital and discuss why UC is such a pressing problem for this type of facility. We will also examine why some experts are concerned that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) may not be enough to mitigate this issue.
1. One hospital that faces significant challenges with UC is Cook County Health (CCH) in Chicago, Illinois. CCH is one of the largest public hospital systems in the country and serves a significant number of uninsured and underinsured patients. According to their website, 37% of their patients are uninsured, while an additional 33% are covered by Medicaid. This high percentage of patients without insurance or with Medicaid coverage significantly impacts the hospital’s bottom line. With these patients unable to pay for the services they receive, CCH is forced to provide a large amount of UC, which puts a strain on their financial resources.
2. While the Affordable Care Act was designed to address many of the issues related to healthcare affordability and accessibility, some experts are concerned that it may not be enough to mitigate the problem of UC at hospitals like CCH. One reason for this concern is that the ACA did not expand Medicaid in all states, which means that in some areas, low-income individuals are still without affordable healthcare coverage. Additionally, while the ACA instituted penalties for individuals without healthcare coverage, they are often not enough of a deterrent for those who cannot afford the expensive premiums. These factors mean that some hospitals, including CCH, may continue to face significant challenges with UC despite the implementation of the ACA.
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