Question.1131 - Individual Assignment Select a federal government policy program. Social polices such as healthcare programs, social security, welfare, energy independence, lower income tax rates etc., are acceptable. In an APA formatted essay, select one of the evaluation methods discussed in Briggs & Helms chapter 11 and apply to the social policy program selected. Briggs, S., & Helms, L. B. (2015). The practice of American public policymaking. New York: Routlege Taylor & Francis Group Include at least three library references to develop the essay. Peer-reviewed journals are preferred over periodical publications. Do not include blog sites or other non-scholarly resources. INSTRUCTIONS ON THE FORMAT AND STYLE OF WRITING TO BE FOLLOWED •Written communication: Written communication is free of errors that detract from the overall message. •APA formatting: Resources and citations are formatted according to APA (7th edition) style and formatting. •Length of paper: typed, double-spaced pages with 3-5 pages, plus a title or cover page and a separate Reference page at the end of the term paper. •Font and font size: Times New Roman, 12 point.
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Week 3 Assignment Karsten Sanders American Public University System DEFM410 Professor Dr. Ronald Riker November 23rd, 2023 Week 3 Assignment Introduction For program evaluation, considering Affordable Care Act (ACA) (also known as Obamacare), a landmark social policy aimed towards reshaping the landscape of healthcare in terms of reducing healthcare costs without compromising the quality of service in the United States, was enacted in 2010 (Manchikanti et al., 2011). The primary focus is on applying program evaluation methods as discussed in Briggs and Helms' Chapter 11, specifically the utilization of the Logic Model to assess the impact of the Affordable Care Act. Program Evaluation using the Logic Model According to Briggs and Helms (2006) Logic Model provides a systematic framework for understanding and evaluating the inputs, processes, outputs, and outcomes of a program; it helps in understanding a program in an streamlined manner; while in the context of the Affordable Care Act, the effectiveness can be assess through logic model and on the other hand, evaluating the outcome of the program could also aid in possessing better insight of the performance of the act in terms of impact of a program pertaining the target stakeholders. Inputs Inputs involve the resources allocated to the program. In evaluating the ACA, this includes examining the financial investments, staffing, and infrastructure provided for its implementation. By referring to library resources such as those by Lanford and Quadagno (2016) and B?land et al (2023), we can analyze the financial and human resources committed to the ACA's rollout in terms of the following pointers: Increased health insurance coverage, wherein ACA aimed to expand health insurance coverage to millions of uninsured Americans by implementing provisions like Medicaid expansion, health insurance marketplaces, and subsidies for low-income individuals, the ACA has significantly reduced the uninsured rate. Secondly, reduce healthcare costs by regulating insurance practices, promoting preventive care, and encouraging competition among insurers; but the overall healthcare costs have continued to rise wherein ACA has helped to slow the rate of growth (Lanford & Quadagno, 2016). Lastly, providing healthcare without compromising the quality, it was done by promoting preventive care, investing in primary care, and providing access to essential health benefits (Manchikanti et a., 2011). Processes Evaluation can explore the efficiency and effectiveness of enrollment procedures, outreach initiatives, and the establishment of health insurance marketplaces. Research by Manchikanti et al. (2011) and B?land et al. (20236) can offer insights into the processes employed during the ACA's implementation; such as considering uninsured rate by tracking the uninsured rate over time provides insights into the ACA's success in expanding coverage within an targeted scope of operations. Evaluating the expenditure of program, including both total spending and spending per capita, helps assess the ACA's impact on cost containment. Lastly, the outcome in terms of target stakeholders health by measuring life expectancy, preventable deaths, and chronic disease prevalence provides insights into the ACA's impact on health quality. Outcomes and Conclusion Outcomes are the intended or unintended consequences of the program, and by evaluating the ACA's outcomes involves assessing its impact on health outcomes, access to care, and disparities. A 2021 study by the Kaiser Family Foundation revealed that the ACA's preventive care coverage requirements have led to increased use of preventive services, contributing to improved health outcomes (Hatch et al., 2021). Applying program evaluation methods, specifically the Logic Model valuable tool for assessing the ACA's impact, providing evidence of its positive contributions to the American healthcare system allowing for a comprehensive analysis of the Affordable Care Act's inputs, processes, and outcomes. References B?land, D., Rocco, P., & Waddan, A. (2023). Obamacare wars: federalism, state politics, and the Affordable Care Act. University Press of Kansas. Hatch, B., Hoopes, M., Darney, B. G., Marino, M., Templeton, A. R., Schmidt, T., & Cottrell, E. (2021). Impacts of the affordable care act on receipt of women's preventive services in community health centers in medicaid expansion and nonexpansion states. Women's Health Issues, 31(1), 9-16. Lanford, D., & Quadagno, J. (2016). Implementing ObamaCare: the politics of Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act of 2010. Sociological Perspectives, 59(3), 619-639. Manchikanti, L., Caraway, D. L., Parr, A. T., Fellows, B., & Hirsch, J. A. (2011). Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010: reforming the health care reform for the new decade. Pain physician, 14(1), E35.More Articles From Project Management
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